Deputy President William Ruto should thank the handshake for his acceptance in Kibra, Wajir Woman Representative Fatuma Gedi has said.
Ruto, a critic of ODM leader Raila Odinga, who enjoys massive support in Kibra, peacefully campaigned for Jubilee Party candidate McDonald Mariga thrice in the constituency before the Thursday poll.
According to Gedi, the tolerance shown to Ruto in Kibra is thanks to the 2018 truce between Raila and President Uhuru Kenyatta.
She said were it not for the truce, the DP may not have been allowed to set foot, and campaign in the constituency.
"What helped Ruto to access Kibra is the handshake. Otherwise, he would not have even stepped there. Raila had also been very tolerant with him (Kitu kimesaidia Ruto kuingia Kibra ni handshake. Kama sio hivyo hata hangefika pale. Na pia Raila amemwachilia sana)," she said on Radio Maisha's Bunge La Maisha on Monday morning.
Addressing claims that Raila felt threatened by Jubilee's inroad in the constituency, she said Odinga used the campaign to spread a message of unity.
"Raila was not shaken, this was BBI politics (Baba hakuwa anaogopa, hii ilikuwa siasa ya 2022)," she added.