United Nation’s Secretary General Antonio Guterres has lauded President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga for striking a unity pact after a lengthy season of political animosity.
Guterres reiterated UN’s commitment to continue supporting Kenya in its quest for unity, peace, stability and development.
“We welcome the statement [they] issued … declaring their commitment to working together to strengthen the unity of the country for all Kenyans,” he said in a statement Tuesday as quoted by the Star.
The UN has in the past asked Kenyan political players to dialogue and find middle ground for the sake of peace and development of the country.
Kenya’s situation went from bad to worse after the August 8 polls which drove the division dragon among Kenyans a notch deeper.
Despite calls for dialogue in the past, Jubilee maintained a hardline position until Friday when Uhuru and Raila-NASA leader- took Kenyans by surprise after appearing together from a meeting at Harambee House.
And in one accord, they pledged to bury the hatchet and forge forward together for the sake of uniting the Kenyan people.
“We need leaders to secure the goals of peace, unity and justice. Such a time has come for Kenya.
We refuse to allow our diversity to kill our nation. We have travelled so far. We cannot make it to our destination without bridging the gap,” said the ODM party leader.
On his part, President Uhuru Kenyatta said Kenya is bigger than any individual and he called on Kenyans to embrace unity even after elections.
“All we want is a common understanding that Kenya is greater than any one individual. Leaders must come together and discuss their differences on what ails the country like ethnic divisions across the country. Elections come and go but Kenya remains,” said Uhuru.
A joint office was established to work on issues brought forward that if addressed, could change the face of the country.
Under a communiqué signed by both leaders, counter-terrorism head Kimani Macharia and NASA lawyer Paul Mwangi will run the joint office and ensure that issues raised during in the Uhuru-Raila talks-corruption, lack of ethos, inclusivity, governance; respect for human rights among others are worked upon.