It was almost unbelievable when Kenyans woke up to be told Raila and Uhuru have left their differences behind and are now working together to support the building bridges initiative. President Uhuru Kenyatta and his political arch-rival Raila Odinga emerged together from the terraces of the Harambee House, the seat of power to address the nation,
One bright man Mr Mugo argues that for decades, peace in Kenya had been elusive hence the handshake has provided a gateway to greater cohesion, peaceful co-existence, tranquillity and a sense of nationhood.
Well he acted on the on it as parliament has received a petition seeking to make March 9, the day President Uhuru Kenyatta and Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga shook hands on the steps of Harambee.
The petitioner, Mr Paul Mugo, wants the National Assembly through relevant departmental committees to amend Article 9(3) of the Constitution to include the date as a national holiday to be observed on March 9.
“Of great importance is the concerted effort by both government and the opposition towards achievement of the big four agenda and realisation of the desired socio-economic and political development in the country,” reads the petition.
President Kenyatta and Mr Odinga through the handshake agreed in a nine-point agenda to end unnecessary political animosity that threated to derail development in the country.
In the nine-point agenda the two leaders signed and sealed with a famous handshake, Mr Odinga and President Kenyatta vowed to end corruption and divisive elections, strengthen devolution, and address ethnic antagonism, lack of national ethos, inclusivity, and safety and security of Kenyans for a shared prosperity.
The petition has been committed before the Committee of Justice and Legal Affairs which is expected to look and report to the House after not more than 60 days according to the House rules.
Just a day after the handshake politics forced down the eight per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on Kenyans, President Uhuru Kenyatta awarded cronies and the Opposition with State appointments.
Cutting across Kenyatta, NASA leader Raila Odinga and his co-principal Kalonzo Musyoka’s political camps, the new appointees range from their aides, former MPs, failed aspirants and party activists.
Leading this team of ODM young turks was NASA CEO Norman Magaya and ODM Secretariat official David Osiany, who landed memberships in Kenya Film Classification and Chemelil Sugar boards respectively. Also rewarded from Raila’s wing is ODM Vice Chair Thomas Mwadeghu to sit in the Unclaimed Financial Assets Authority board, and former ODM Women’s League Chair Betty Syengo, who gets a seat in the board of the Bomas of Kenya.
Non-politician appointees include rugby player Humphrey Kayange and athlete Tecla Lorupe who have been appointed to the boards of Kenya Academy of Sports Council. Former ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Iran Rashid Ali will sit in the Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) board. Raila’s wife Ida Odinga also joined the ranks of Kenyan women heroines to be decorated with Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart (EGH, Second Class) honour. She was among the three women honoured by the President on Friday.
The other two are the President’s sister, the late Margaret Kenyatta, and Kenya’s first woman Cabinet minister Nyiva Mwendwa. The President also recognised 26 other women with various Burning Spear and Grand Warrior honours.
The Building Bridges is a national initiative working to identify and promote practice and policy that will create strong and closely coordinated partnerships and collaborations between families, youth, community and residentially – based treatment and service providers, advocates and policy makers to ensure that comprehensive mental health services and supports are available to improve the lives of young people and their families.