By Joab Apollo
In his last Independence Day speech, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta paid a glowing tribute to former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga for the prevailing economic and political stability.
Addressing thousands of Kenyans who, in a show of patriotism, braved the Nairobi heat, Kenyatta said that it had reached a point where Kenya was losing Ksh. I trillion, thanks to election dispute pitting them, and the political truce salvaged the grim situation.
“When we shook hands with former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in 2018, it was because we saw a crack on the wall of our nation. We had run to elections that cost the country in excess of Ksh. 1trillion.” Kenyatta said.
He added that the much-touted Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) a governance structure which the duo spearheaded ostensibly to promote inclusivity, and which the Kenyan courts rejected, would be back.
“BBI is just a dream differed. One day, someday, it will happen.” He stated before breaching the protocol to allow Odinga to address the gathering.
The political truce was, however, dismissed by Deputy President William Ruto, who interpreted it as a scheme to clip his political wings. Ruto has since chatted his own political path, registering a political party dubbed United Democratic Alliance (UDA) on whose ticket he intends to seek the country’s presidency.
Kenyatta and his allies have made it clear they will back Odinga for the election scheduled for August 2022.
