News

You’ve no choice but reunite, Uhuru tells Nasa co-principals

Tuesday, June 15th, 2021 00:00 |
President Uhuru Kenyatta when he hosted a delegation of political leaders from Ukambani region. Photo/PSCU

PD Reporter and PSCU

“You have no choice but to unite,” that was President Uhuru Kenyatta’s message to the National Super Alliance (Nasa) co-principals.

 According to Uhuru, ODM leader Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper), Musalia Mudavadi (Amani National Congress) and Ford Kenya’s  Moses Wetan’gula need to re-unite.

 The President emphasised the essence of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) was to bring the country together and consolidate national unity.

 He cautioned against endless politics at the expense of development, saying political bickering and selfish pursuits by leaders were holding the country back.

 “Rather than engaging in endless political fights, let’s work together. If we do that, we will be able to become a truly middle-income country by 2030,”  said Uhuru.

 Uhuru spoke when he hosted a delegation of political leaders from Lower Eastern counties of Kitui, Machakos and Makueni to discuss the region’s development.

Ensure inclusivity

 The President expressed optimism that BBI will ensure inclusivity and equal distribution of resources across the country.

 “BBI will make every Kenyan feel they belong,” President Uhuru told the leaders who included Kalonzo, Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu and her Machakos counterpart Alfred Mutua. 

 The Head of State pointed out that by working with leaders from across the political divide, he has managed to deliver more projects during his second term in office, because he was able to focus more on development.

 “Working in conjunction with my colleagues, I have been able to focus on the development agenda not the political agenda,” Uhuru said.

 Kalonzo, who led the delegation, thanked the President for the development projects implemented by the national government in the Ukambani, citing the recent revival of the Kenya Meat Commission and several other infrastructure projects.

 “You have really worked for your people and we appreciate that,” Kalonzo said.

 The President accepted an invitation by the delegation to visit Ukambani later in the month.

Governors Mutua and Ngilu who also spoke at the meeting affirmed Ukambani region’s support for the President’s Big Four agenda.

“The President said that Nasa leaders have no choice but to unite, that they must set aside their personal egos and ambitions and sacrifice for the sake of the country,” said Kitui senator Enoch Wambua who attended the meeting.

 “He said he was determined to complete all projects he has initiated in various parts of the country, including Ukambani.

He however said that he was sure that he may not complete all the projects he has initiated and it was his hope that whoever succeeds him completes them. That is why he expects these leaders to work together,” added  the senator.

According to Wambua, the President was keen to ensure that the four Nasa principals work together. 

“ He said the success of any  one of them will have to be collective,” Wambua said.”

 At another event, President Uhuru met India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar who paid him a courtesy call at State House, Nairobi.

 The President and Jaishankar discussed a range of bilateral interests between Kenya and India, among them agriculture, energy, growth of small and medium enterprises, maritime security and people-to-people exchanges.

Great benefit

 The visiting minister also briefed the President on the measures his government is taking to restore the supply of Covid-19 vaccines following the disruptions brought about by the surge of Coronavirus infections in India.

 Jaishankar expressed India’s commitment to enhancing its collaboration with Kenya saying, Nairobi was India’s foremost partner in Eastern Africa.

 He expressed satisfaction that Kenya’s partnership with India had led to the revival of Rivatex and promised similar interventions going forward.

 “We are grateful for this partnership that has been of great benefit to the people of our two countries. We look forward to strengthening it further,”Jaishankar said.

More on News


ADVERTISEMENT

RECOMMENDED STORIES News


ADVERTISEMENT