Kenyans were Tuesday urged to shun divisive politics as calls for peace and unity dominated the 58th Madaraka day speeches held in Kisumu County.
The national fete brought together several dignitaries and political leaders among them Deputy President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga who met face to face for the first time since the high court ruling declared the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI)-driven Constitution of Kenya Amendment Bill 2020 unconstitutional.
The two leaders who have always differed on BBI read from the same script as they rallied Kenyans to embrace unity for the sake of the Country’s prosperity and future generations.
DP Ruto dismissed ethnic bigotry while he steered clear of the handshake politics that spawned the BBI debate which took centre stage at the event.
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Raila Odinga in particular used the opportunity to root for BBI which he said was the bridge to a united Kenya.
He defended the handshake saying it had provided a golden opportunity to bring Kenyans together and enhance development across the country.
The former premier appealed to Kenyans to support the initiative that he said will bring long-lasting peace to the country.
“We must remain united and support BBI which will bring unprecedented development and enhance unity in the Country. Handshake has given us an opportunity to bring Kenyans together and enhance development across the Country” he said.
On his part, the DP who graced the occasion even after being sidelined in President Uhuru Kenyatta’s working tour of Nyanza region hailed his boss for the various projects he had launched in the region.
He said the jubilee development record stands out and is proof that it is possible to develop Kenya equally and bring everyone on board.
“I laud your 2-day launch of various projects in this region, it shows the government delivers and is respective of everybody despite who voted for who. Your administration shows it is possible to develop Kenya, your success shows in infrastructure development” he stated.
The Deputy President however called for adherence to the rule of law warning against destroying the firm foundations for the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary as well as others. He said a country cannot succeed where there is disunity.
“It will be an act of great betrayal if we allow ethnic bigotry to destroy the firm foundation of the rule of law in our nation. It will be an act of great betrayal if we allow ethnic bigotry to destroy the firm foundation of the rule of law in our nation” he cautioned.
Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyong’o said the fruits of the handshake between the opposition leader and Uhuru Kenyatta were manifest across the country.
Nyong’o while welcoming guests to the lakeside city said the county was honoured to host the national fete while at the same time taking pride in the various key infrastructural projects launched by the President during his three-day visit.
He attributed the gains made so far to transform the County to the handshake and the spirit of devolution.
Your Excellency, you must exercise your bragging rights by telling these august gathering what your government has achieved in this region. How you have built for the future of this region…… – Prof. Anyang Nyong’o, Governor Kisumu County pic.twitter.com/oUIrqzej4e
— KBC Channel1 News (@KBCChannel1) June 1, 2021
“Most of what you have done are seeds though planted earlier, have flowered and flourished since the handshake…..We have no alternative but to build an all-inclusive, democratic Kenya” he noted.
He said it was only BBI that will end the country’s cycle of post-election violence and called on Kenyatta and Odinga not to waver in their resolve to unite Kenyans despite opposition from opponents.
” Once to every man and nation, comes the moment to decide, and it’s the brave man who chooses while the coward stands aside” Nyong’o encouraged the two leaders with the words of the classic gospel hymn.
He recounted how the region as an opposition stronghold, bore the brunt of the election violence cycle but as always rose from the ashes to give Kenyans some of the nations’ happiest moments.
” We saw sad moments that tarnished our nationhood to the detriment of our development agenda. However, Kisumu has never turned its back on Kenya. We were a nationalist and we will remain nationalists embracing Kenyans, one indivisible nation where all communities feel at home as one family” he assured.
