Kenyatta And Odinga Meet, Vow To Resolve Differences

President Uhuru Kenyatta met opposition leader Raila Odinga in
public on Friday for the first time since last year’s
hotly-disputed elections, with the pair promising to heal the
country’s divisions.

The surprise meeting at Kenyatta’s downtown office on Friday
ended with the symbolic appearance of the two men standing
side-by-side to deliver a joint statement.

Calling one another “brother,” they announced a plan for “a
programme” to overcome deep and long-standing ethnic and political
divides, although they provided few details of what it might
involve.

“We have come to a common understanding, an understanding that
this country of Kenya is greater than any one individual, and that
for this country to come together leaders must come together,”
Kenyatta said.

Odinga expressed similar sentiments.

“Throughout our independence history, we have had doubts on how
we have conducted our affairs in the face of growing divide along
ethnic, religious and political lines. Regrettably, we have
responded to our challenges by mostly running away from them,” said
Odinga, who spoke first.

“The time has come for us to confront and resolve our
differences.”

Friday’s meeting came hours before the arrival of US Secretary
of State Rex Tillerson as part of his first Africa tour. The US has
been urging direct talks between Kenyatta and Odinga to resolve the
political strife.

Tillerson later described the meeting as “a positive step”.

“While we know addressing Kenya’s ethnic and political divisions
will take some time and effort, today both of these men showed
great leadership in coming together and in the agreement they
signed,” he told a press conference in Nairobi after meeting with
Kenyatta.

But Tillerson also warned against democratic backsliding, urging
the government to, “correct certain actions, like shutting down TV
stations and threatening the independence of the courts.”

Last year’s fraught election season saw one presidential poll
annulled by the courts and the re-run boycotted by the
opposition.

While political violence did not come close to that which
followed the 2007 vote — when over 1,100 lives were lost — the
disputed elections led to the deaths of over 100 people, most of
them shot by police.

On January 10, European Union election monitors said the flawed
poll had “weakened” the country’s democracy.

“Kenyans went from high hopes for these elections to many
disappointments and confrontations. Kenya remains deeply divided,”
EU chief observer Marietje Schaake, a Dutch member of the European
parliament, told AFP as the critical report was launched.

AFP

President Uhuru Kenyatta met opposition leader Raila Odinga in
public on Friday for the first time since last year’s
hotly-disputed elections, with the pair promising to heal the
country’s divisions.

The surprise meeting at Kenyatta’s downtown office on Friday
ended with the symbolic appearance of the two men standing
side-by-side to deliver a joint statement.

Calling one another “brother,” they announced a plan for “a
programme” to overcome deep and long-standing ethnic and political
divides, although they provided few details of what it might
involve.

“We have come to a common understanding, an understanding that
this country of Kenya is greater than any one individual, and that
for this country to come together leaders must come together,”
Kenyatta said.

Odinga expressed similar sentiments.

“Throughout our independence history, we have had doubts on how
we have conducted our affairs in the face of growing divide along
ethnic, religious and political lines. Regrettably, we have
responded to our challenges by mostly running away from them,” said
Odinga, who spoke first.

“The time has come for us to confront and resolve our
differences.”

Friday’s meeting came hours before the arrival of US Secretary
of State Rex Tillerson as part of his first Africa tour. The US has
been urging direct talks between Kenyatta and Odinga to resolve the
political strife.

Tillerson later described the meeting as “a positive step”.

“While we know addressing Kenya’s ethnic and political divisions
will take some time and effort, today both of these men showed
great leadership in coming together and in the agreement they
signed,” he told a press conference in Nairobi after meeting with
Kenyatta.

But Tillerson also warned against democratic backsliding, urging
the government to, “correct certain actions, like shutting down TV
stations and threatening the independence of the courts.”

Last year’s fraught election season saw one presidential poll
annulled by the courts and the re-run boycotted by the
opposition.

While political violence did not come close to that which
followed the 2007 vote — when over 1,100 lives were lost — the
disputed elections led to the deaths of over 100 people, most of
them shot by police.

On January 10, European Union election monitors said the flawed
poll had “weakened” the country’s democracy.

“Kenyans went from high hopes for these elections to many
disappointments and confrontations. Kenya remains deeply divided,”
EU chief observer Marietje Schaake, a Dutch member of the European
parliament, told AFP as the critical report was launched.

AFP