President Uhuru Kenyatta lauded for heading peace bid

By KURIAN MUSA

South Sudanese nationals living in Nairobi have lauded President Uhuru Kenyatta for spearheading mediation talks in South Sudan.

Elite nationals under the union body Compatriots of South Sudan for Peace living in Nairobi termed the killings in Africa’s youngest state as political violence and not tribal.

President Uhuru Kenyatta arrived in South Sudan Thursday morning for a day’s official visit over the political crisis.

Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amb Amina Mohammed, former Cabinet Minister Dalmas Otieno and Amb Bethwel Kiplagat are part of the team that began mediation talks between the parties earlier in the week with a delegation from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development.

South Sudanese living in Nairobi have asked President Salva Kirr and former Vice President Riek Machar to go back to the drawing board and negotiate to end the strife in the young republic.

“We call upon the two leaders to end the political violence and have peace talks. We thank Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta for showing compassion at our time of need,” said Compatriots of South Sudan for Peace Chairman Makuach Aleu.

Makuach added: “It is not the time to engage in destructive political engagement but a moment to look back where the country has come from and build it for the benefit of the posterity of South Sudan.”