No handshake this time! Sonko tells off Raila over protest plans

"Please give us a break! It is not fair to keep Kenyans in campaign mode since 2016."

In Summary

• In a statement, Raila said President William Ruto was trying to reinvent a system that has long since been brought down.

• Commenting on the remarks, Sonko asked Raila to give Kenyans a break, reminding him that the President was not willing to unite the government and the opposition.

Former Nairobi governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko.
Former Nairobi governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko.
Image: FILE

Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has fired at ODM leader Raila Odinga over plans to hold protests following the suspension of four IEBC commissioners.

In a statement, Raila accused President William Ruto of reinventing a system he said they will fight.

"We wish to remind Mr Ruto that this country had a system like the one he is trying to reinvent. We fought that system," Raila said.

"We brought down that system. We will do so to the one he is inventing now. We will bring it down. Let us all stand up for our country before it is too late."

Reacting to the remarks, Sonko asked Raila to give Kenyans a break, reminding him that the President was not willing to unite the government and the opposition.

"Please give us a break! It is not fair to keep Kenyans in campaign mode since 2016. President @WilliamsRuto clearly stated that there will be no handshake this time round," he said.

On Friday, the opposition chief invited his supporters to a meeting at Kamukunji Grounds on December 7, to discuss how to make the Kenya Kwanza government accountable.

"We will return to the same venue on December 12th, to continue with these consultations on the state of our Nation," he added.

Raila said the Ruto-led administration had captured the judiciary, adding that the criminal system had collapsed.

He pointed out that it was the reason for the recent wave of withdrawal of high-profile cases.

"That is why cases are rapidly being dropped, criminals are being celebrated and turned into prosecution witnesses."

On Thursday, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua said the Kenya Kwanza administration has no intention of capturing the Judiciary.

"We will support the judiciary in its noble calling of dispensing fair justice to the people of Kenya. We promised to facilitate an independent judiciary and that is what we will do," he said.

Raila's remarks come after Ruto suspended IEBC Vice Chairperson Juliana Cherera, commissioners Justus Nyang'aya, Francis Wanderi and Irene Masit.

He also appointed a tribunal to investigate them. The tribunal is chaired by High Court Judge Aggrey Muchelule.

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