President Uhuru Kenyatta's public apology on Wednesday during the State of the Nation Address has been positively received by opposition leaders and a majority of Kenyans in general.
In his first address to the Parliament since he took office for his second term, the Head of State asked Kenyans and leaders, in particular, to admit that last year, they failed in the duty to preserve the unity of this country.
In this view, Uhuru pointed out the need to make amends in a bid to Build Bridges to a New Kenyan Nation.
[caption caption="Uhuru shakes hands with Embakasi East MP Babu Owino "]
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"First, I pray that all of us will spend the days and weeks after this address repairing the bonds that frayed last year.
"Let us apologize for our words, and for the anger and malice that Kenyans heard," he stated.
His sentiments were welcomed by a majority of leaders with a section of Kenyans having previously demanded his public apology as part of the healing process following the historic handshake with NASA leader Raila Odinga.
Put to task by a supporter on whether a handshake and simple apology would put to end the ongoing resistance to the government agenda by the opposition Busia woman representative Florence Mutua replied in the affirmative.
Always ask yourself what would Jesus do... read the Bible. https://t.co/koBnhXoLkZ
— Hon. Florence Mutua (@florence_mutua) May 2, 2018
Mutua, however, indicated that for healing to take place, compensation of those who were maimed and killed by the police in 2017 must be a key agenda of the recently unveiled 14-member team meant to spearhead the process of uniting the country.
On his part, ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna termed the apology for damaging the unity of the country as encouraging terming it as an example that can be followed by all.
Encouraging that Uhuru apologised for damaging the unity of the country with his words anger, malice and hatred in the heat of the campaign. An example we can all follow #StateOfTheNation #SOTNKe2018
— Edwin Sifuna (@edwinsifuna) May 2, 2018
Sifuna, however, noted that Uhuru had missed using the opportunity to build more bridges by not condemning police brutality and consoling the victims.
Additionally, the Opposition lawyer also indicated that Uhuru should not have ignored the threat to rule of law posed by the disobedience of court orders.
Criticised that the handshake had made the Opposition forget the journey on reforms and electoral justice they have pursued for so long, Sifuna retorted:
We fully understand that it was a handshake and not a Baptism that washes away all sins. You are the one having trouble getting that into your head. https://t.co/ItbkWV1CpZ
— Edwin Sifuna (@edwinsifuna) May 2, 2018
Former Presidential candidate James Ole Kiyiapi equally welcomed the apology terming it as "powerful and touching."
President @UKenyatta message - the State of the Nation Address - was positive and must herald a new national spirit. His APOLOGY was particularly powerful and touching. LET us apply this across the board and bring @MigunaMiguna home. Over to you, Mr President.
— Prof J. Ole Kiyiapi (@JamesOleKiyiapi) May 2, 2018
Homa Bay Senator Otieno Kajwang' equally lauded Uhuru's apology.
This was a humbling statement by @UKenyatta in Parliament today. My conscience can now allow me to embrace the President. I also apologise for disrupting the President's State of the Nation address two years ago.#StateOfTheNation#SOTNKe#SOTNKe2018#SONA2018 pic.twitter.com/xCK2y98Xl5
— Senator Kajwang' (@senatorkajwang) May 2, 2018
"From Mandera to Maseno, from Mbita to Mvita, from Lodwar to Lunga Lunga, let us shake hands and embrace our neighbours, and let us celebrate the diversity that is God’s gift to us.
"Let every leader in the country reach out to our sons and daughters, and remind them that they have it in them to forge a Kenya that speaks gently, that criticizes constructively, and that embraces and respects dissent and competition as healthy and civilized ways of collaboration.
"And since leadership is best done not by exhortation but by example, let me do as I have asked you to do," Uhuru stated.
