Kenya’s main political protagonists, President Uhuru Kenyatta and his nemesis Raila Odinga awed and shock many in equal measure in yesterday’s renewed relationship.
Both Uhuru and Raila have in the last nine months engaged in bitter political rivalry that threatened to tear apart the country.
But before their public appearance yesterday on the steps of Harambee House, there had been closely-guarded political negotiations going on between them.
The stakes of the negotiations were high, leaving nothing to chance to a point that close allies to the two leaders were kept in the dark all the while.
NASA co-principals Kalonzo Musyoka, Moses Wetangula and Musalia Mudavadi said they were not privy to Raila-Uhuru meeting; that they only got to learn about it from the media.
The Deputy President on the other hand, reports the Star, was also kept on the dark all this time and got to know about the negotiations on Thursday evening.
In spite of all this, Ruto congratulated the two leaders for being “statesmen”.
“You have risen to the moment for Kenya and against hate, negative ethnicity and division. The unity, stability and transformation of Kenya supersede all other partisan interests,” he wrote on his twitter page.
Just four of Uhuru’s trusted men were aware of the behind-the-scenes negotiations between him and Raila.
They are according to the Star: Intelligence chief Phillip Kameru, Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua, State House Comptroller Kinuthia Mbugua and Ambassador Martin Kimani.
On Raila’s side, only Lawyer Paul Mwangi, former Permanent Secretary Andrew Mondo and Suna East MP Junet Mohamed were aware of the talks.
Mbugua, a former governor for Nakuru County was the go-between Uhuru’s side and Raila’s side.
Last week, the team roped in Luo and Kikuyu council of elders in readiness of yesterday’s grand announcement.
Out of the talks, some of the things set to be addressed going forward are inclusivity, devolution, corruption, ethnic harmonization, safety and security and respect for human and civil rights.
Further, Raila and Uhuru will establish a joint office with advisers to assist in the implementation of the blueprint drawn by the two teams towards a better Kenya.