The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has rubbished claims that its party leader Raila Odinga had tried to have a 'handshake' with Deputy President William Ruto.
The allegations were made by the DP during an exclusive interview with Citizen TV on Tuesday night.
During News Night segment, DP Ruto said the former Prime Minister approached him four times so they can have a political pact.
This was before Raila entered into a peace deal with President Uhuru Kenyatta on March 9, 2018.
"Before Raila Odinga engaged the President on the ‘handshake’, he engaged me, 4 times, but I declined," Ruto said.
The DP went ahead to state that he informed Uhuru every time the ODM leader approached him.
"All engagements within Jubilee have to start with the President because we are not running a coalition government," he stated.
But in a quick rejoinder, ODM spokesperson Philip Etale dismissed the remarks and accused DP Ruto of lying on a national TV.
"Mr. DP on Raila approaching you, you are lying. He has never had time for you. He will never have it either. Stop fake news sir," Etale tweeted.
To 'set the record straight', Etale said it was, in fact, Uhuru who approached the ODM leader for a talk before they announced their new relationship at the Harambee House on March 9.
"The truth of the matter is; it is the President who looked for Raila for a meeting that culminated into the handshake. Raila never ever sought to meet Ruto. He has never planned to do that and he will never do," the ODM director of communications insisted in the tweet.