Kenya’s opposition leader Raila Odinga has denied holding political truce talks with President William Ruto in their three meetings over the weekend.
Mr Odinga on Tuesday termed his meeting with President Ruto at a burial in central Nyandarua county and later at two local football matches as “chance meetings” that had nothing to do with the political situation in the country.
The Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition leader had in 2018 entered into a post-election agreement with former President Uhuru Kenyatta— popularly known as the “handshake”.
He has been under constant attacks by the ruling Kenya Kwanza administration that his anti-government demonstrations were a plan to force a political handshake with President Ruto.
“We did not talk about anything other than football. For the record, we don’t want any handshake with the government and we have not asked for it,” Mr Odinga said.
The three meetings between the president and the former prime minister had sparked rumours of imminent political truce between the two rivals.
Both camps shared pictures of the president and Mr Odinga sitting at close range, sharing heartily in the football matches.
This comes as Mr Odinga threatens to call for fresh protests over the Finance Bill 2023 which proposes more taxes on Kenyans.
