Charity Ngilu's 'Handshake' With Musalia Mudavadi Sparks Debate: "Hii Imeenda"

• On Thursday, August 24, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi hosted former Kitui governor Charity Ngilu at his office
• The meeting elicited a lot of reactions, as a majority of Kenyans suggested that Ngilu was joining the Kenya Kwanza Alliance government
• Others said the meeting was motivated by the recent arrest of former Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya

Nairobi - A meeting between Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and former Kitui governor Charity Ngilu has continued to elicit mixed reactions from Kenyans.

Mudavadi hosts Charity Ngilu

On Thursday, August 24, the former Kitui governor paid a courtesy call to Mudavadi's office, where the two held private talks.

Mudavadi said it was his pleasure to catch up with one of his long-time friends in a statement on his social media page.

"It was great catching up with my long-time friend Charity Kaluki Ngilu at my office this afternoon," Mudavadi said.

However, the meeting between the two senior political leaders generated a lot of speculation from Kenyans, bearing in mind that Ngilu strongly supported ODM leader Raila Odinga's 2022 presidential bid.

What Kenyans think of Mudavadi, Ngilu meeting

Most Kenyans said the meeting could have been used to lay grounds for Ngilu to dump Raila and join the Kenya Kwanza Alliance.

Others suggested that it was a strategic move by Ngilu to save herself from arrest a day after former Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya was arrested over corruption allegations.

Rodgers Kipembe Mpuru:

"Charity Ngilu saw what Oparanya went through jana, akasema hapana."

Frank Mtetezi:

"Hii Imeenda , Today Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi welcomed Former Azimio team Leader Hon Charity Ngilu to Kenya Kwanza Government. I hope Azimio won't be calling her a rogue Azimio member after this great handshake .It's time to work."

Propesa:

"Looks like Charity Ngilu is joining Kenya Kwanza. President Ruto knows how to manage politics, keep in touch with the ground, and manage the economy. I fear 2027 no one will want to run against William Ruto even Raila will leave Kalonzo to embarrass himself again."

Odoyo Owidi:

"First member of Azimio cabinet crosses over. Azimio Water CS Charity Ngilu officially joins UDA. Deputy party leader and lands CS will be next."

KIPRONO:

"Wycliffe Oparanya was arrested and it didn't take long for Charity Ngilu to come out of hiding and try to appease things."

Ruto's advice to Raila Odinga

In other news, President William Ruto predicted another loss for the Azimio coalition in the 2027 presidential election.

Ruto observed that the Raila-led faction is preoccupied with the mass action protests, which will make them be caught up by time unprepared for the polls.

Speaking in Kabartonjo, Baringo county, on Thursday, August 24, where he was launching a 78-kilometre road and issuing title deeds to locals, the president jested that the Raila team would lack agents due to overindulgence in the street protests.

"You dimmed Azimio's lights here until they lost the network completely. If they continue with these protests, don't they think will not have agents in the next vote? They ought to shelve their shenanigans and join us in building the nation," said Ruto.

The president counselled the Opposition to oversight the government through parliament in the place of going to the streets for anti-government protests.