The Luo and Kikuyu communities have for a long time been political rivals if not for the handshake between the two leaders Raila Odinga and President Uhuru Kenyatta.
There are two times former prime minister Raila Odinga now an African envoy expressed his love for the Kikuyu community in bid to fade off the rivalry between this two communities.
1. When he supported Kibaki for the presidency in 2002
Former President Mwai Kibaki (3rd president of Kenya) was the main candidate in the 2002 general election. While he was from a campaign meeting in Machakos, he was involved in a road accident. He was subsequently hospitalized in Nairobi , then London, after sustaining fracture injuries in the accident.
Due to the injuries, Kibaki was unable to campaign and it was this time that Raila Odinga alongside Kijana Wamalwa (who later became the vice president) and other NARC colleagues took over the campaigns. Kibaki won the elections and became the 3rd president of Kenya.
2. The promise he made to Kiambu residents during his visit ahead of 2017 general elections
Few weeks to last year's general elections, NASA leader Raila Odinga took his campaigns to Kiambu county where he made juicy promises to the residents. Odinga who was vying for presidency against Uhuru Kenyatta told the Kikuyus that they will feel more secure under his responsive leadership asking them to vote him in.
"I want to assure all Kikuyus that they will feel more secure, happier under a more responsive government led by Raila Odinga," Odinga said.
Odinga later showed his love for Kenyans when he accepted defeat from Uhuru Kenyatta in form of the famous handshake.