Former Roots Party presidential running mate Justina Wamae has called on the hardliners in government to get ready for a handshake.
Wamae on Tuesday said it is time the leaders have a handshake for the sake of ordinary Kenyans who have continued to bear the brunt of the turmoil being witnessed in the country.
She noted that ordinary Kenyans need an ample environment to continue surviving and looking for their daily bread without interruptions.
She further alleged that it was time for President William Ruto to accept the ‘nusu mkate’ government as it had happened under late President Mwai Kibaki, a process which he (Ruto) pushed to make it happen.
Ruto was the leader of Odinga's negotiation team in a peace deal brokered by chief mediator Kofi Annan after the 2007 post-election violence.
“Yote Tisa, Ruto team must have an open mind towards a handshake, mkate nusu and everything in between,” she said.
“Reason being in 2007, Ruto pushed Raila to get nusu mkate in Kibaki's administration it's time for payback; Raila to get mkate nusu in Ruto's administration,” she added.
Ruto side on Wednesday unveiled its team of five negotiators with clear instructions to deliberate on only five agenda issues.
The team will be led by National Assembly Kimani Ichung'wah.
They include reconstitution of IEBC; implementation of two-thirds gender rule, entrenchment of constituency development fund, establishment and entrenchment of the Office of the Leader of the Opposition and embedment of the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary.
For the avoidance of doubt, the Kenya Kwanza team insisted that violence shall no longer and will never be part of Kenya's political discourse.
The team also insisted that there will be no discussion on handshake with the opposition.
"As agreed, there shall be no discussion of whatever nature on matters handshake or nusu mkate," the statement read.
The five agenda items have been rejected by Raila Odinga's team.
