Is the Uhuru, Raila deal doomed to fail like others before it?

President Uhuru Kenyatta with former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. [Photo: Courtesy]

When the much- acclaimed Building Bridges Initiative was unveiled on March 9 on the steps of Harambee House, I was having lunch with the Bangladeshi Nobel Peace Laureate Yunnus Muhammed of the Gramin Bank in a hotel in Nairobi. In the room, were close to 20 local successful entrepreneurs.

Together, we were reflecting on the possibility of introducing social entrepreneurship, a business model pioneered by Prof Muhammed. Most of those in attendance cheered heartily as the former sworn enemies Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga closed ranks and shooks hands. I wondered whether the ecstatic mood had infected our distinguished guest. I noticed he paid little attention if any to the palpable excitement in the room.