The specific details of the event may be scanty at the moment, but the simple fact that the meeting between President Uhuru and his erstwhile political opponent, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga took place, is a positive move.
As a country, we have just come from a bitterly fought General Election that led to a protracted legal battle in the Supreme Court, which ultimately upheld the decision of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) that Uhuru Kenyatta had won the presidential race.
We have said before in this forum that Kenya belongs to all of us. The country does not belong just to the winners of the General Election, but to each and every Kenyan.
After a hotly contested election, the country was bound to end up significantly divided. As we said immediately after the Supreme Court gave its ruling, the onus of uniting the country falls on the shoulders of President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto.
As such, the responsibility of reaching out to former antagonists is entirely the President’s and others can only respond to his tune.
Of course the President can reach out to his erstwhile opponents and if they are not receptive, then no meeting or political rapprochement can take place.
As such, we commend the former Prime Minister and former Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka for being receptive to President Uhuru’s overtures.
The State House meeting sends a positive message to a country crying out for healing. The message says: “Yes, we campaigned against each other, but at the end of the day, we are all brothers and sisters, so let’s move forward together.”
The State House meeting between the most important political players today will help reduce tension.
Indeed, the meeting also sends a positive message to the business community, local and international investors that Kenya is mature and safe for business.
In the same vein, we would also like to ask Members of the National Assembly currently trying to hold the Government and the country at ransom because of what they consider low pay, to take the hint and start putting the country ahead of their personal interests.
If Raila had put personal interests ahead of national interests, chances are he would not have agreed to a meeting with President Uhuru.But as a nationalist, the former PM understands the country is larger than all of us and nationalists are measured not just by what they say, but how they react to situations and circumstances by putting national interests ahead of the personal.
We hope and pray the spirit of working together in the larger national interests of the country will continue at all levels.
As a country, we have many challenges ahead and we cannot afford a permanent state of uncertainty. Constant engagement between all political players will go assuage fears and worries besides creating an atmosphere of peace and security where Kenyans can be the best they can be.
Once again, kudos to former Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Deputy President William Ruto and President Uhuru Kenyatta for showing the way.
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