Kibaki urges Kenyans to support Uhuru

Retired president Mwai Kibaki on Sunday appealed to Kenyans including politicians to support his successor Uhuru Kenyatta in building the nation.

Mr Kibaki was at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani in Nairobi where he said that he had come specifically to “say goodbye” to the nation.

“I have a cold. I am still convalescing. I came to say goodbye and I also came because I knew it will be good to see you again,” said Mr Kibaki, who has kept a low profile since April 9, when he handed the leadership baton to Mr Kenyatta.

“I have done my part. What is left is for you to do. I know you will do a good job,” he added.

President Kenyatta said the new government needs a little bit of “help and support” to steer the country forward.

Mr Kibaki’s appeal for Mr Kenyatta comes at a time when the country is dogged with multiple strikes from teachers to the nurses, all of which, are causing Mr Kenyatta sleepless nights.

There’s also the siege from Somalia-based terror group Al-Shabaab; the inter-clan fighting that have resurfaced in the north eastern part of the country and the runaway insecurity because of turf wars between the Inspector-General of Police and the National Police Service Commission.

“This man Uhuru Kenyatta has plenty of experience and he knows what he’s doing. He’s a hard-working man. Let’s pull together and help him move this country forward. He needs help. Everyone should come out and help him. That’s the only way we’ll succeed,” said Mr Kibaki.

The call for “help and support” also comes within the week that the Jubilee administration is facing a major international snub, with the US President Barack Obama coming to east Africa for the first time but failing to make a stop in Kenya.

The US officials say they will skip Kenya because of the pending cases against Mr Kenyatta, his deputy William Ruto and broadcaster Joshua Sang, at the International Criminal Court in the Hague.