- He said the only avenue Raila has in having his demands addressed is the use of elected leaders.
- Raila, he said, is not an elected leader in the country, and the issue of having talks with him cannot arise.
Image: PCS
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua says Azimio leader Raila Odinga is an ordinary citizen insisting they can never have direct engagement with him.
Gachagua appeared to suggest that despite his (Raila) influence he is not going to have any preferential attention.
He said the only avenue Raila has in having his demands addressed is the use of elected leaders.
"We cannot talk to him, who is he in Kenya? We are talking to him on what grounds?" he posed.
"He is just an ordinary citizen lakini kama ako na matatizo ya kibinfasi akuje tumsikilize," he added.
The DP made the remarks during a church service at PCEA Ngorano Center Church at Mathira in Nyeri.
He said even before any discussion can happen Raila must acknowledge in public that Ruto is the president.
Raila, he said, is not an elected leader in the country, and the issue of having talks with him cannot arise.
Gachagua advised the team to be named by the Kenya Kwanza for the bipartisan talks to listen to the concerns of the Opposition arguing he and the president have no time for other engagements outside Parliament.
He said Raila can go back to the demonstrations if he wishes as they can no longer yield further to their demands.
Rubbishing the 'Handshake' talk, he explained that if embraced the aim of having a general election will lose its meaning.
"Kenya is a democracy, why do we go to an election, do we spend Sh30 billion for people to elect leaders-some get elected while others rejected"? he posed.
Gachagua and Raila have been engaged in a war of words.
Last week, Raila dismissed claims he is interested in having a Handshake deal with Ruto.
Addressing the press, he said Handshake claims have been the creation of President Ruto and his allies.
He went on to tell off Gachagua saying he is not interested in shaking his hands.
"We have never talked about the handshake. That is the language that has been coming from the other side. It is them that have been saying these people want Handshake and Nusu Mkate. Take it to Gachagua, I do not want even to shake his hands," he said.