Ex-KDF officers warn Ruto of bipartisan talks with Raila
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Ex-KDF expresses reservations on the bipartisan talks warning President Ruto against agreeing to a handshake with Raila Odinga
Ex-KDF expresses reservations on the bipartisan talks warning President Ruto against agreeing to a handshake with Raila Odinga.
On Thursday, April 6, retired Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) soldiers pressed President William Ruto to refuse a handshake proposal at their bipartisan discussions with the Azimio La Umoja Coalition leader Raila Odinga.
The Ex-KDF soldiers all agreed, drawing on their military background, that a handshake was not good for the nation.
“We advise that hardline stances are not healthy, if they take root at a time like this, they will bring turbulence and increase political temperatures.
“We support the bipartisan approach but we do not support a handshake. Handshake, in our experience as retired soldiers, is a poison to any democracy,” they noted in a statement.
They consequently urged the President to oppose any efforts to create a “handshake” government and pushed the opposition to back off from making demands akin to a “handshake.”
The group asserts that Azimio La Umoja is adamant about creating a “handshake” administration.
A handshake deal hinders multiparty democracy, the soldiers continued, and it is not permitted by the Constitution.
This brings to mind the infamous handshake on March 9, 2018, between former leaders Raila Odinga and Uhuru Kenyatta.
As a result, the Orange Democratic Movement, led by Raila, and the ruling Jubilee Party, led by Uhuru, collaborated.
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Additionally, it caused tension between President Uhuru and his deputy William William Ruto.
The soldiers also advocated for peace after serving in war-torn countries while conducting peace-keeping missions as part of the United Nations (UN) and the African Union (AU) peace-keeping missions.
Founded in 2008 following a government resolution and approval, Kenya Veterans for Peace is made up of retired KDF soldiers or those who have resigned on compassionate grounds.
In 2022, former President Uhuru Kenyatta signed the Kenya Defence Forces Military Veteran Act of 2022 into law.
The law caters to the well-being of KDF veterans by providing resources to help them reintegrate back into civilian life.
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