DP Kindiki praises Ruto for Raila, Uhuru handshakes

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has hailed President William Ruto for reaching out to former President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, with whom he previously had strained relationships.

Speaking during this year’s Jamhuri Day celebrations at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi on Thursday, Kindiki lauded Ruto for what he described as inviting leaders across political, religious and ethnic lines towards national unity.

“We applaud you for reaching out to the former Prime Minister for the establishment of the broad-based government, and for reaching out to the former President Uhuru Kenyatta, and making sure that going forward, every stakeholder is on the table as we decide the destiny of our country in honour of the previous generation and the generations to come,” said Kindiki.

“We applaud you for realising that Kenya’s progress will be faster if the country is united. Thank you for reaching out to as many stakeholders as possible to bring everyone to the table so that we can all pull in one direction.”

On Monday, Ruto visited Kenyatta at his Gatundu home for what he called discussions centred on promoting national unity and addressing tribal divisions in Kenya.

The meeting came as a surprise to many because their relationship has been weary since Ruto served as deputy president under Kenyatta’s administration.

Kenyatta refused to back Ruto’s 2022 presidential bid, instead throwing his weight behind Odinga as his preferred successor.

Odinga lost the presidential seat to Ruto in the tightly contested August 2022 race whose results he unsuccessfully challenged in court.

The former premier, then the de facto opposition leader, even organised demonstrations against Ruto’s administration in 2023.

Ruto has now been campaigning for Odinga’s African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship bid.