Veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga revealed for the first time what he told President Uhuru Kenyatta in secret conversations between the two leaders that laid the groundwork for the dramatic handshake that took Kenyans across the political aisle by surprise.
Speaking on Tuesday at the rural home of renowned scholar Prof. Makau Mutua, Mr Odinga said he insisted that the president not tag along those interested in talking about 2022, an indirect reference to Deputy President William Ruto.
The president on his part insisted that Raila not bring along Kalonzo.
''I told him that I don't want to talk to people who are interested in talking about 2022 and he said, ok, I am ready. We talk only the two of us. ''I am not coming with Ruto and don't come with Kalonzo,'' Raila said.
Questions had lingered on why DP Ruto had been left out of the talks given the closeness between him and President Kenyatta.
The talks which were done secretly yielded the dramatic handshake that helped cool the high political temperatures in the country in the aftermath of the October 26 repeat presidential election