On the first day of the viewing of former President Daniel Moi’s body at Parliament Buildings in Nairobi, leaders led by President Uhuru Kenyatta attended the event.
The event was also graced by Deputy President William Ruto, First Lady Margaret Kenyatta amongst other leaders and members of the public who were allowed to view the body, in a process that will continue for three days.
However, the absence of ODM Party leader Raila Odinga was noticeable after he pulled a no-show for the highly popularised exercise.
Raila, who has become a close ally of President Uhuru Kenyatta since the politically symbolic handshake has been appearing in many events together with the head state in a show of solidarity and unity.
The two had just come from a five-day trip in the US where they presented themselves as brothers.
The former prime minister flew to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Saturday, February 8 for the ongoing African Union Summit to represent President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The summit comes under the 2020 theme of “Silencing the Guns: Creating Conducive Conditions For Africa’s Development,” a commitment that aims at achieving peace and security in Africa, in accordance with the continent’s Agenda 2063.
The former PM still has Sunday, February 9 and Monday, February 10 to pay his last respects to the departed former president.
The head of state and the First Lady Margaret Kenyatta viewed Moi’s body at 10.15 a.m.
The deputy president and other local and international dignitaries were also given an hour to view the body before the public was allowed inside.
Throughout the weekend, members of the public willing to pay their last respects to Kenya’s second president will be allowed into the Parliament Buildings from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Monday, February 10.
The interactions between Uhuru and Raila have continually superseded those of Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto, raising questions on the future of Ruto in his quest to clinch the presidency in the 2022 General Election.
Uhuru and Odinga's closeness and overcoming bad blood between them led to their invitation in the US, to share the experience of their handshake.
The two leaders joined hundreds of guests at the US National Prayer Breakfast in Washington DC on Thursday, February 6, where they gave insights about the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) formed after the handshake.
At the event hosted by US President Donald Trump, the two also spoke in-depth about Kenya’s electioneering period, which is often characterised by bloodshed, ethnic violence and political tension brought about by tribalism.
According to PSCU, the two also spoke about what inspired them to come together and how it has worked in uniting a country synonymous with violence during elections.
