Veteran politician Koigi Wa Wamwere has weighed-in on President Uhuru Kenyatta's Wednesday endorsement of Jubilee party Kibra parliamentary aspirant McDonald Mariga.
Earlier in week, the president met Mariga at State House in the company of other Jubilee party officials, bringing to an end his long silence on the Kibra by-election issue.
Speaking on Saturday, the veteran politician said the endorsement caught him off guard, especially at a time when President Kenyatta is in a truce with ODM boss Raila Odinga.
He said since Odinga's party is interested in retaining the seat through Imran Okoth, he expected the president would stay off in the spirit of the handshake.
"I was shocked, thinking of the handshake. I thought Uhuru would stay out of this issue. (Mimi nilishangaa, ukifikiria mambo haya handshake nilifikiri Uhuru atakuwa nje ya mambo haya)," he said on Radio Sauti ya Mwananchi's Cheche show.
He claimed Deputy President William Ruto could have persuaded President Kenyatta to endorse Mariga for the parliamentary seat.
"It is possible that Ruto persuaded him since Mariga seems like his representative. (Inaonekana Ruto alimshawishi maana Mariga anaonekana kama mtu wa Ruto)," he added.