Handshake is not an employing company: Shollei, Buyu face off on morning show

Women lawmakers from the two political factions Inua Mama and Embrace traded accusations over the Uhuru-Raila handshake and the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report.

Rosa Buyu (Kisumu Women Rep), Alice Wahome (Kandara MP) and Gladys Boss Shollei (Uasin Gishu Woman Rep) were on Tuesday embroiled in a heated exchange during an interview on Citizen TV’s Day Break show.

“Handshake has made no difference whatsoever especially to the common mwananchi. It has made no difference whatsoever, the economy has not grown, the facts speak for themselves, there have been job losses…” Shollei said.

Rosa Buyu, Kisumu Women Representative: Handshake is not an employing company, it is not supposed to put money in people’s pockets. Handshake is creating an environment for private investors to invest in the country #DayBreak pic.twitter.com/sUO6JM1BWz

— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) October 15, 2019

This to which Buyu responded saying: “Handshake is not an employing company, it is not supposed to put money in people’s pockets. Handshake is creating an environment for private investors to invest in the country.”

The Kisumu Woman Rep further insisted that the handshake was not about Raila Odinga or Uhuru Kenyatta but about Kenyans particularly those affected by post-poll violence.

“I come from Kisumu and I know what it’s like after elections. You are lucky that where you come from you have enjoyed peace all your life,” she told her counterparts.

When asked about claims that the BBI report would be recommending a referendum to change the Kenyan Constitution, Buyu rubbished the allegations saying: “This has not be stated anywhere.”

Shollei had alleged that the President agreed to the handshake to ‘tame Raila Odinga’. She however faulted the peace deal saying it has turned into ‘a monster’ particularly because of the BBI.

“BBI is an illegal process,” she retorted.

Gladys Shollei, Uasin Gishu Women Representative: The President went into the handshake to tame Raila Odinga but it has now turned into a monster specially now with the birth of BBI that pushes for a referendum. BBI is an illegal process #DayBreak pic.twitter.com/6SKxLvAH44

— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) October 15, 2019

On her part, Kandara MP Alice Wahome said: The handshake event did not translate into understanding by the Kenyans. Opposition party in a country, is supposed to be checking the Government and not going to bed with the government.”

Buyu maintained that the handshake had brought peace and allowed the economy to improve. “Handshake has not stagnated anything, the opposition speaks when necessary,” she said.

She further accused the Inua Mama faction of spewing insults at the Embrace team members whenever they hold rallies.