The Orange Democratic Movement party leader Raila Odinga has reportedly assembled a team of technocrats who will give an alternative should President Uhuru Kenyatta dump Handshake.
Even before Building Bridges Initiative team releases reports, there are concerns that Uhuru may not be keen to have a referendum before 2022 polls.
And to help address a possible fallout with Uhuru, Mr Odinga's technical team is reportedly crafting the best strategy to help him move on in case of such eventualities.
Further, another team at Orange House is reportedly examining Uhuru's decision to endorse McDonald Mariga for Kibra by-election, a move that has sent mixed signals.
“We do not want to be caught flat-footed. They say a week is a long time in politics, now what can we say about an election that is three years away? Many things shall have happened by then and we must stay on top of the game,” a senior party official said while asking not to be quoted for fear of breeding bad blood between Mr Kenyatta and Mr Odinga.
Seme MP James Nyikal, who also chairs Duol (a caucus of Luo Nyanza MPs), admitted that the decision to endorse Mr Mariga came as a shocker.
“Let’s see what happens in Kibra, although I expected Jubilee to support us on this. We must now mobilise our troops to come out in large numbers to vote for the ODM candidate, Imran (Okoth),” he said.
But Mr Junet Mohamed sought to assure ODM supporters that all was well. He was among few ODM leaders who were privy to the handshake.
“To those in the party who are not privy to inside information, .... I want to assure them that there is no cause for alarm.
"Mr Kenyatta remains the leader of Jubilee Party and is expected to discharge such duties in the party that calls for his attention, even with the handshake, and so is Mr Odinga. Didn’t you see Raila meet our candidate for Kibra as well? The handshake is intact.”