In an interview with NTV, Mbadi admitted that he did not view the rapprochement as a strategic move when it was first announced.
"I felt disappointed when Raila got us into the handshake with Uhuru Kenyatta, I did not feel it was a good move," the CS said.
However, Mbadi noted that Raila explained his reasoning, which momentarily convinced him of its merits.
Despite this, the former ODM chairman remains skeptical about the tangible benefits that emerged from the arrangement.
"For me, I did not see what came out of it apart from just stabilising the country," Mbadi observed, adding that the handshake "brought Raila's stature down" politically.
The CS questioned whether the opposition received meaningful political support from Uhuru's camp during the 2022 general election, despite the former president's endorsement of Raila's presidential bid.
"Did we get much political support from the wing in 2022? To me it's debatable," he stated.
The 2018 handshake followed months of political tension after the disputed 2017 presidential election.
The deal between Raila and Uhuru was meant to unite the country and address historical injustices through the Building Bridges Initiative.
While supporters credit the handshake with bringing political stability and ending potential unrest, critics argue it weakened the opposition and left supporters feeling betrayed.
The subsequent loss to William Ruto in 2022 has intensified questions about whether the political gamble paid off.
Mbadi's remarks offer a rare glimpse into the internal deliberations within Raila's camp and highlight lingering questions about the handshake's legacy in Kenyan politics.
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