Uhuru steps up shuttle diplomacy in region

Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday met South Sudan’s Vice-President Riek Machar in Nairobi as he continues talks with regional leaders. Read (Kikwete urges Kenyans to unite ahead of polls)

Dr Machar said South Sudan will work with the leaders Kenyans elect next year and hoped the elections will be peaceful.

“South Sudan believes Kenyans must be allowed to make their choice of leaders,” Dr Machar said.

Mr Kenyatta said the new Constitution will transform Kenya. He said institutions were being rebuilt and issues that led to the 2007 violence were being addressed, adding that leaders were working together to reconcile Kenyans.

Mr Wamalwa accompanied Mr Kenyatta to the meeting.

This is Mr Kenyatta’s second meeting with a regional leader since he accused the international community of “meddling” in next year’s election process.

Speculation is rising that he is seeking support from African leaders in case he is elected President while facing charges at the International Criminal Court.

“My focus is on Kenya, the region and the continent. No Kenyan or African, other than those who came as tourists, has said Uhuru should not vie for the presidency, so the rest can stay away if they don’t want to associate with us,” he said a fortnight ago.

He was responding to former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan who had said if those facing charges at the ICC are elected, relations between the international community and Kenya would sour.

Last weekend, the DPM led a team from his TNA, Mr Wamalwa’s New Ford Kenya and Eldoret North MP William Ruto’s URP to a meeting with Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete.

The latter asked African countries to respect Kenyans’ decision during the elections.

Sources in the G7 Alliance say Mr Kenyatta will hold similar meetings with Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni and Rwanda’s Paul Kagame.