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United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary-General Cleophas Malala has maintained that the Kenya Kwanza coalition will not agree to a handshake with the opposition.

Addressing a crowd on Saturday, July 29, 2023, Malala claimed that Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya coalition leader Raila Odinga was ‘persistent’ on getting a handshake from the Kenya Kwanza team.

He went on to state that leaders allied to the Kenya Kwanza coalition were strongly opposing the move and warned that a handshake government would ‘destroy’ the Kenya Kwanza administration.

“Raila Odinga na watu wa Azimio kufikiria kwamba watashukisha Rais wetu aingie katika handshake tumekataa. Sisi kama UDA tumesema hatutaki maneno ya handshake.

“Mnakumbuka vile handshake ilifanya ile serikali ingine, Raila aliingia katika serikali ya Uhuru akagawanyisha, akakosanisha Rais na naibu wake tena vile vile anataka kuja agawanyishe serikali kati kati. Sisi tunataka kuambia Raila we cannot tolerate that imagination of you coming to government. You are living in Utopia,” he added.

Malala’s remarks comes ahead of talks expected between the two coalitions. The talks are meant to resolve the issues facing the country.

In the talks that will be facilitated by ex-Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo, the two factions will form a 10-member committee.

Out of the 10 members, each coalition will front 5 members.

“We, the leadership of Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya coalition party, having consulted with the leadership of Kenya Kwanza under the facilitation of K.E Olusegun Obasanjo on the state of our nation, desirious of a democratic and peaceful resolution of issues that beset our nation,” a statement shared by Azimio coalition on Saturday, July 29, 2023, reads in parts.

“We have therefore agreed with Kenya Kwanza to establish a committee of ten, composed of five members each from Azimio la Umoja and Kenya Kwanza,” the statement added.

Our Statement as @AzimioTv. pic.twitter.com/DzpO2bmri3

— Azimio TV (@AzimioTv) July 29, 2023