Woman in unexpected handshake with Uhuru speaks for the first time

brian oruta

May 22, 2018 8:09 AM

She has made only one request to the president

Esther Muthoni, the woman who was left speechless after realizing she had just shaken hands with President Uhuru Kenyatta during the memorial service of the Solai Dam victims, has spoken for the first time.

According to Muthoni, she was aware the president was in attendance but did not know where he was seated and being a member of the Women’s Guild she went to collect offerings together with other women but as she was heading back to her seat the unexpected happened.

“I happened to be the only one using a different path after handing over the offerings. A well-built man stood up and held my right hand. As he led me towards my seat another man held my left hand, making me feel uneasy,” she said.

Muthoni who spoke to the Standard said that upon looking into the faces of the two men she realized the man on her left was Kenyatta, who after holding her hand induced a handshake, which she responded to quite casually.

“I thought this was just a dream, but when we looked at each other, I was elated but fear soon gripped me. I became confused not knowing whether to move on or go back and use a different path,” she said.

Special request

The 65 year old however, said that she wants to apologize to the Head of State and also made a special request asking the President to visit her house and have a proper handshake the next time he visits the area.

"Despite all the congratulatory messages I have been receiving, I still feel guilty. I feel I need to tender my apology to him through a proper encounter. I welcome him to have chicken for lunch when he comes to issue title deeds that he promised,” said Muthoni.

Esther Muthoni was seen by hundreds of mourners at the Memorial service of the victims of the Solai Dam tragedy and was also captured on live TV with her mouth wide open in shock, after she realized she had shaken the hand of the country’s most powerful man, before she buried her face in her palms and walked away without uttering a word.

brian oruta