Kenyans have cheered the recent news that President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga will be honoured in the United Kingdom (UK) for their political sportsmanship and adherence to the principle of political tolerance.
The two political leaders will be honoured during the Black History Month, African Peace Award 2018 which be held at the British Parliament London Political Summit in the UK.
“This year summit would be a unique one, as it offers us an opportunity for the first time, to honour two great sons and esteemed leaders of African politics at the summit. These two great men themselves have a long rich history behind them, as their both parents were the founding fathers of Kenyan political and democratic history. ”
Their honourship follows their peace Accord shown on March 9, 2018 through their Handshake which brough the political tension to an end after Kenya’s election in 2017 which had threatened to divide the country and increase violence.
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.
Here are some of the reactions
Our leaders have recently potrayed a mature level of tolerance and political coexistence. None the less there is much to be done and time is not on their side. Congratulations to both Hon. @RailaOdinga & my Commander in Chief @UKenyatta ????????????????????????
— JAMES (@JamesMwadeghu) October 18, 2018
Congratulations to both of them hope @MigunaMiguna is also celebrating the two icons for a historic handshake,
— Reimus Young (@ReimasDominic) October 18, 2018
Politicians who thrive in hate speech should read this. Development thrives only in a peaceful environment, one cannot purport to be hoping from one county to the other promoting development but is against efforts made towards promoting peace.
— Oliver Okwaro (@oliverokwaro) October 18, 2018