Embakasi East MP Paul Ongili alias Babu Owino has for the first time poked holes at the handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga, arguing that the latter could be duped.
In unlikely turn out of events, Uhuru and Raila reconciled on March last year, a move that caught many of their handlers flat-footed. The two have been closely working together.
Since then, the handshake politics have caused anxiety within the ruling Jubilee party, with Deputy President William Ruto accusing Mr Odinga of wrecking Jubilee from within.
While Raila's ODM has been patient with Uhuru, Mr Owino now claims that in long run, Uhuru could abandon the MoU with Raila despite the support from ODM.
In apparent reference to Uhuru's decision to openly endorse McDonald Mariga for Kibra by-election, Owino said Uhuru is not genuinely committed to handshake.
"Baba must be very careful with this thing called Handshake. No fruits so far. We can’t be duped twice. President Uhuru must be genuine with this handshake.
"Baba we must be very careful and if the 'marriage' is void because one party is incompetent for being in a subsisting marriage or voidable because it’s not consummated then we must be out very fast. We need not lie to each other and in return their intention is to embarrass you. Jubilee must never and will never win Kibra," he added.
Mariga was cleared on Monday to join in the race to succeed the late Ken Okoth. ODM has fielded Okoth's brother, Imran Okoth, having beaten nine other candidates a fortnight ago.
But the former footballer's candidature has been eclipsed with controversy, with a section of Jubilee leaders vowing to support Mr Imran Okoth. Mariga is being projected as DP William Ruto's man.
The decision by Uhuru to endorse him on Wednesday will further cause confusions, with Mr Owino now becoming the first high profile leader to criticise the move.
Recently, Raila vowed to ensure ODM retains tge seat. He met all campaign teams at his Karen home, bestowing responsibility to Makadara MP George Aladwa to run the campaigns.
Besides Mariga and Okoth, other candidates in Kibra by-election scheduled November 7th include Raila's former aide Eliud Owalo of ANC and Ramadhan Khamisi of Ford Kenya.