Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi has rubbished claims that the ongoing renovations at the Kisumu Port are a product of the handshake.
This comes amid claims from some Western Kenya leaders that ODM leader Raila Odinga is using his 2018 truce with President Uhuru Kenyatta to heap projects in his Nyanza background at the expense of other regions.
Led by former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, the group has accused Raila of sidelining Western Kenya in the development plans despite linking himself with the region.
“Raila no longer values western where he claims to be the 13th grandson of Wanga King Nabongo Mumia,” said the leader last week.
But speaking on Sunday, Mudavadi rubbished claims that the renovations have anything to do with the truce, insisting that they are not even funded by the Kenyan government.
Speaking at his Mululu home in Vihiga, he pointed out that the project and the ongoing road constructions in Kisumu have been in the channel long before Uhuru came to power.
"Let me talk about what is erroneously being called ‘handshake projects’. I think sometimes we use terms in very strange ways. If you are talking about rehabilitation of the port of Kisumu, this is public expenditure programmed within the Ministry of Infrastructure and done through the Kenya Ports Authority," he said.
The port is expected to serve the region, with its lauch later in the month expected to be attended by presidents from regional counties.