Kenyatta meets Odinga

Nairobi, Kenya | THE INDEPENDENT | Raila Odinga, who was recently inaugurated as Kenya’s “People’s President”, has in a surprise move met President Uhuru Kenyata in Nairobi.

According to Nzoika Waita, the chief of staff in the office of the president, “Kenyatta has reached out to Opposition Leader Raila Odinga. The President’s foremost interest is to develop the country for all Kenyans and it’s critical that every effort is made to bridge the acrimony that characterises our political differences.”

Soon after the Friday morning meeting, the two leaders went to twitter to share their thoughts.

“Had the great pleasure of welcoming my brother @RailaOdinga to Harambee House where we had the opportunity for extensive discussions on matters Kenya. We have come to a common understanding, an understanding that this country of Kenya is greater than any one individual,” Kenyatta tweeted after the meeting.

Odinga, tweeted “Had the pleasure of meeting my brother @UKenyatta for discussions on issues afflicting Kenya. We have resolved that the future our nation is more important than any sole individual.”

Odinga, 72, a veteran opposition leader who claims he has had three elections stolen from him, has refused to accept President Uhuru Kenyatta’s re-election, which came after a deeply divisive 2017 polls season in which rights activists say at least 92 people were killed.

First was an election on August 8, won by Kenyatta, which was annulled in a historic decision by the Supreme Court, which ordered a re-run on October 26.

Claiming the poll would not be fair, Odinga boycotted the second vote and Kenyatta won with 98 percent.

The meeting comes after several members of theNational Super Alliance (NASA) coalition were arrested. Key among them is Miguna Miguna, a firebrand member of the NASA  who was arrested for treason and deported to Canada.

His deportation came after he was arrested for treason for taking part in the mock swearing-in of opposition leader Raila Odinga, who insists he is the rightful victor of last year’s elections.

Miguna has blasted Odinga for the meeting.