President Uhuru Kenyatta has landed in Kisumu County ahead of Universal healthcare cover launch among other projects. However, Uhuru will earn a big lifetime achievement that no one has been talking about. Doctor President Uhuru Kenyatta? Well, a local public university that is due to honour President Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga says the two have pushed for an environment that promotes scientific innovations.
The Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) says it will honour the two with honorary degrees because their “handshake’ allowed innovators to work.
The two leaders will be conferred with honorary doctorate degrees at the institution’s main campus in Bondo, Siaya County when it holds a graduation ceremony on Friday.
Prof Stephen Agong, the vice-chancellor of JOOUST told the a local daily that they are honouring the two leaders for their peace initiative following their March 9 handshake that ended weeks of political turmoil after the disputed 2017 Presidential election.
“Our theme for this year’s graduation is ‘Science, Technology and Innovation for Peace and Socio-Economic Development’. This decoration, therefore, really fits within that realm given that our two leaders have demonstrated that they are true statesmen by causing peace and harmony for our beloved country.
“Therefore, in terms of social integration and harmony we all now can smile and do business as a country,” Prof Agong’ said.
The event is part of President Kenyatta’s tour of Kisumu and Siaya, for the first time since the divisive elections last year.
In Kisumu Thursday, President Kenyatta will launch the pilot phase of the universal health coverage (UHC) programme and, together with Mr Odinga, head to Bondo on Friday for the graduation ceremony.
Speaking on a vernacular FM radio station ahead of the visit on Tuesday night, Mr Odinga said they “humbly accept the award.”
“We shall be at the University and have humbly accepted the award following our March 9 handshake that ended weeks of heightened tension in the country,” said Mr Odinga.
The award at JOOUST comes hot on the heels of another conferred on the two leaders in October 2018 following their handshake which ended political acrimony and intolerance after the disputed August 8, 2017 presidential poll that was nullified by the Supreme Court.
The London Political Summit, which honoured the two leaders termed them as “great men with a long [and] rich history behind them.”
They were honoured by the British Houses of parliament with the African Peace Award 2018.