The meeting between retired opposition chief Raila Odinga and retired President Mwai Kibaki was precipitated by tensions that were witnessed following the former's meeting with Daniel Moi.
Before flying to South Africa, Raila had met the longest serving President Moi at his Kabarak home, a move that irked political tensions with DP William Ruto said to have been unhappy.
To quell the tension, a source says, Raila asked his handlers to plan another meeting with Kibaki, as a way to eclipsing his meeting with Moi, which is seen as political.
"It was not initially in his diary at least at that time. The meeting with Moi precipitated Kibaki's meeting just to quell political tensions," said a source in confidence.
The source added: "In Kibaki family, there is no one interested in politics and that neutralises the meeting with a more political Moi family."
At the meeting with Kibaki, Raila said that he was happy to see the former coalition partner in 'good shape and high spirits;.
Further, he said, he briefed Kibaki about his decision to work with President Uhuru Kenyatta after months of antagonism.
The DP had read mischief in Raila's meeting with Moi, with pundits saying it was a scheme to push for Gideon Moi's presidency.