Kenyatta and Odinga agree to resolve differences

NAIROBI: President Uhuru Kenyatta called opposition leader Raila Odinga “his brother” yesterday and promised they would both start the process of bringing the people together after last year’s contentious elections.

In a live TV address with Kenyatta on the steps of the president’s office, Odinga said the time had come to resolve “our” differences.

It was the first public appearance by the two politicians together since a repeat presidential election on October 26 last year.

Kenyatta and Odinga had agreed to establish a new office staffed by advisers to tackle the divisions ranging from opposition complaints over the election to tensions between ethnic groups and corruption.

Kenyatta was sworn in for a second term in November after an extended election season which saw the Supreme Court nullify an August presidential poll and order a re-run in October, which Odinga boycotted.

About 100 people died in clashes between the security forces and opposition supporters during months of acrimoni- ous campaigning and protests. The election season blunted growth in Kenya, East Africa’s richest economy and a Western ally in a volatile region.

In January, Odinga took a symbolic presidential oath in a Nairobi park in a direct challenge to Kenyatta.

Before the Friday meeting, the two men had defied calls from Kenyan civil society, religious leaders and Western diplomats to hold talks to overcome deep divisions opened up by the disputed elections.

Odinga said the opposition had decided to change tactics for the sake of the country’s unity.

“We refuse to allow our diversity to kill our nation,” he said. – Reuters/African News Agency (ANA)