Raila Odinga Confronts Gachagua Over Claims Ruto Gave Him Money: "Nilikutana Na Yeye Wapi"

• Azimio La Umoja leader Raila Odinga has denied meeting President William Ruto secretly in Mombasa
• Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua had claimed that Raila met with Ruto, where he was offered an unspecified amount of money in place of a power-sharing deal
• Clearing the air, Raila said he was not after any benefits from the government, stating that all he was after are issues bedevillig the common citizenry addressed

Nyandarua - Former prime minister Raila Odinga has denounced the assertion that he secretly met with President William Ruto in Mombasa, where he was given a monetary offer to tone down his anti-government politicking.

While addressing mourners in Machakos recently, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua asserted that Raila was 'sorted' in an unpublicized meeting at the coast with the president.

The deputy president claimed that the Opposition leader approached Ruto for a share of government and three ambassadorial posts, but all were in vain.

He revealed that Raila was instead offered an unmentioned amount of money on the condition that he calmed down politically.

"There is nothing else he wants. He wanted a handshake and three ambassadorial posts, but we declined his demands. We told him if he wants some money, then we can discuss it," he said in Machakos.

Raila: I haven't met Ruto

However, clearing the air, Raila denied having met with Ruto in any secretly arranged setting.

Speaking in Nyandarua county on Friday, August 25, he restated that he had not been running after any power-sharing deal or any other self-please expedient from the president.

Raila explained that his engagement with the government would be on the issues affecting Kenyans at the expense of self-aggrandisement.

"I want to tell you (Rigathi) not to be worried. We don't want half of the government. I do not want the position of the prime minister; I have grown beyond all that, so take it easy and do not say, Oh, they want a coalition government; he has spoken with Ruto. When did I meet with Ruto?" asked Raila.

The ODM leader and the deputy president were attending the burial of John Kiboko, a fallen Mau Mau veteran.

Upon taking over the podium at the funeral, Rigathi sustained his routine tirades on Raila, whom he accused of leading former president Uhuru Kenyatta astray.

Rigathi explodes on Raila

The former premier was accused of turning Uhuru against his Mt Kenya backyard.

A charged-up Rigathi confessed that he used to have a very close relationship with the Kenyattas, and even their children were friends until Raila showed up in their midst hiding behind a handshake.

Suggesting that Raila is anti-religion, the gossipy deputy president further claimed that Uhuru's devotion to the church also waned after he got into a camaraderie with the former prime minister.

"My brother, we don't reject greetings and conversations. When you came and met our son, Uhuru Kenyatta, he was good, he loved us, he worked for us. When you two got close, you turned him against us; he laughed when he came to you, but when he came here, he was angry. We became worried. I myself was his personal assistant, he was my best buddy.

We used to eat together, he would come to my place, and I would go to his place, our children were friends, and when he got close to you, he turned against me and wanted to jail me. Before he got close to you, he used to go to church every Sunday, but after you got close, he stopped going to church. That's why we are concerned," he said as the audience cheered him on.

The deputy president restated that Raila would not be welcomed in government as it was committed to delivering to Kenyans.