During a meeting with Mt Kenya leaders at Sagana State Lodge in Nyeri on Friday, November 15, President Uhuru Kenyatta finally spoke about the Kibra by-election that was held on November 7.
In the gathering, the president hailed the residents of Kibra for upholding peace during the campaigns and even on the material day of the election despite a few incidents.
A source at the venue who spoke to Kenyans.co.ke stated that the president admitted his surprise in how peaceful the by-election was, despite acknowledging that his party lost.
"In all my years, I had never thought that people could campaign peacefully in Kibra. Despite the fact that a few people were stoned, we did not see any shop getting burnt or people having a hard time moving," President Kenyatta stated.
He revealed that the most important matter was that the voters enjoyed and experienced peaceful elections and to him, this was the biggest win.
The head of state further noted that such progress was the true meaning of the handshake, where all communities could live together despite political differences and be able to work together.
Kenyatta also re-emphasized that his deal with ODM leader Raila Odinga was not about future political positions, but rather about uniting Kenyans and asked the leaders not to crucify him on its basis.
He then expressed his disappointment with a section of leaders from Mt Kenya who were insulting others and asked them to embrace political hygiene and focus on development for the remainder of his and their terms.
“I want to take you back to 2007 up to where we are today. You know the problems we had. Some of you here are still very bitter about what happened. Our work as leaders is to find solutions to issues facing our people. But I never hear some of these leaders speak about these issues. All I hear are insults. I wonder when shall we work for our people,” he stated after listing Miraa, coffee, tea pyrethrum and milk as the issues affecting the region's residents.
Deputy President William Ruto, on the other hand, had hit out at Odinga in a series of tweets, accusing him of masterminding chaos during the mini poll.
"Tinga, that we discuss BBI, meant to sort out election violence when you have not only refused to renounce terror but continue to brazenly celebrate and perpetuate it, is to take Kenyans for fools! My friend, kuna upungufu mkubwa wa wajinga (Kenyans are not fools). When will you renounce violence publicly??" Ruto posted on November 10.
"As Kenyans, we demand that Tinga/his party unconditionally, unequivocally and publicly renounce the culture of violence, chaos, terror and gangsterism their signature modus operandi as witnessed in Kibra and unreservedly apologise to victims past and present for their hurt and loss," read another of the DP's post on November 9.
