Elders call for holiday to celebrate Uhuru-Raila pact

A group of elders has proposed a holiday on March 9 for celebrations of the peace Kenya experienced following the handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Orange party leader Raila Odinga.

In a statement on Friday, Elders Association of Kenya noted that the day should be remembered for years to come.

TENSION

The association praised Mr Kenyatta and Mr Odinga for ending the tension and uncertainty that followed the 2017 polls.

On March 9, 2018, the two leaders announced at Harambee House in Nairobi that they had resolved to work together for the sake of peace, unity, healing, reconciliation and development across the country.

Their surprise announcement followed a protracted elections season, which saw the presidential vote take place twice - on August 8 and October 26, 2017.

“We strongly support the handshake. This day should go to the annals of history,” said the elders led by former MP Mohamed Galgalo and their patron Martin Kenyanjui.

The official further asked those fighting the handshake to declare their agenda.

Mr Kenyanjui also asked politicians to end premature campaigns as the next general election will take place in 2022. 

“Let us be mature enough to resist divisive politics,” he said, and condemned Jubilee Party politicians, whom he did not name, for their utterances. He dismissed them messengers of doom and hatred.

"Politics is not our daily bread so we are asking those with ambitions to wait. Our Constitution is explicit on elections taking place every five years. Be patient, wait and give the President time to accomplish his Big Four Agenda, which we should all support and be part of."