Siege exposes details of Uhuru-Raila private deal at Wanjigi home in 2013
The iconic picture of President Uhuru Kenyatta, his deputy William Ruto, and Nasa leader Raila Odinga and his running mate Kalonzo Musyoka giggling outside State House in 2013 will forever remain etched in the minds of most Kenyans.
The picture was taken after a meeting between the two opposing sides just days after the Supreme Court had upheld President Kenyatta’s victory on March 4, 2013.
The picture served to calm the rising tensions after the hotly contested election.
But what had remained unknown until Wednesday was the behind the scenes lobbying that helped bring down the tension when Mr Odinga, later issued a statement wishing the government well.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Nairobi businessman Jimi Wanjigi was the first to reveal that the Jubilee government was actually formed at his home on Easter Monday, April 1, 2013.
‘EATEN WITH MY FAMILY’
“This current regime of Uhuru Kenyatta, this is a home they know. It is a home they have visited. It is a home they eaten with my family. Here in this home. Many many times they have. In fact, their government was formed in this home. These are the facts, and I’m going to be very clear here.
“I also want to say further after the last general election in 2013, it is this home that Baba (Mr Odinga) here agreed to come to shake hands with Uhuru Kenyatta after the Supreme Court had upheld his victory,” said Mr Wanjigi.
“It is this home on Easter Monday that Baba agreed to come and I remember praying excessively that day because I said I’m such a blessed man that in this home and my family to have 10 million plus Kenyans in my home. I felt very blessed. It is here that a peace declaration was accepted and a progress forward to Uhuru’s own acceptance of leadership in 2013. It is this same home that the same regime has come to desecrate.”
Mr Odinga echoed the sentiments.
PERSECUTED
The businessman protested his innocence saying he was being persecuted for backing Mr Odinga. He said all the recovered firearms were licensed.
“And if they can do that to some of us who live in these suburbs, it must be frightening too think what is happening to the small mwananchi,” he said.
“Mwananchi who is struggling every single day to make ends make a living, the kind of persecution they must face daily.”