Deputy President William Ruto has hit out at those criticising President Uhuru Kenyatta for endorsing former footballer McDonald Mariga for the Kibra seat.
In a tweet, Ruto said that the handshake was never meant to kill democracy.
The deputy president said that those who have been faulting President Kenyatta for endorsing a Jubilee candidate for the by-election are misguided.
“The handshake was never meant to kill parties or replace competitive multi-party democracy. Those ranting about our party leader endorsing our party candidate should give us a break. So it’s right for all others to endorse theirs and wrong for Jubilee? Fisi angojea mkono ya mtu story,” he said.
President Uhuru Kenyatta assured Mariga of his support when he met him at State House.
"The President wished Mr Mariga, who was accompanied by Jubilee Party Secretary-General Raphael Tuju, success in the contest and assured him of his full backing,” stated State House.
The move didn’t augur well with some of the leaders allied to Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga.
Led by Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino, the leaders felt Uhuru was not right to endorse Mariga for the seat. ODM has since nominated Imran Okoth, who is the brother to the late Okoth Ken to vie for the seat.