Handshake earns Uhuru, Raila honourship in UK

President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga are set to be honoured in the United Kingdom (UK) for their political sportsmanship and adherence to the principle of political tolerance.

The duo will be honoured during the Black History Month, African Peace Award 2018 in British Parliament London Political Summit in the UK.

Their honourship follows their peace Accord shown on March 9, 2018 through their Handshake which aided the ending of political tension and intolerance after Kenya’s election in 2017 which had threatened to divide the country and increase violence.

Notably, the London Political Summit created a special award known as “Raila-Uhuru African Peace Accord Award” which will be given annually to any African leader who embraces peace, values democracy and exhibits high level of political maturity and tolerance.

The awardees will go through strict criteria and vetting with emphasis on political tolerance, people-oriented leadership, political accountability and political morality among other vital issues in governance.

The summit will be looking at concepts of political will to act, the public willpower to react in the very context of an individual leader, or collective leadership actions in critical political decision-making in governance.

President Kenyatta and Mr Odinga’s handshake put an end to the insults during the divisive election after the two pledged reconciliation.

The presidential election in August plunged the country into turmoil after President Kenyatta’s victory was annulled by the Supreme Court, citing flaws in the process, which ordered a re-run.

President Uhuru won the October re-run after Odinga boycotted the election claiming it would not be free and fair.

Protests and political violence left at least 92 dead during the election period, mostly at the hands of police, according to rights groups.

The handshake, which came after Odinga held a mock swearing-in in January, has brought an end to the vitriolic attacks between the rivals.

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