9th March, 2019
The one-year handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and his once sworn political enemy Raila Odinga has altered the political course of the two leaders. Both have made a compromise and presented united fronts, at least publicly, on things that seem to be of concern to Kenyans.
But away from the public display of affection between the two, the March 9th ceasefire reached deep in the bowels of the homes of the two before a public declaration of truce at the steps of Harambee House, which has come with some benefits for the two.
And in the spirit of the handshake, roles, at least for lieutenants of the two have merged into the common purpose of national unity.
The March 9 political truce, of course, has elicited mixed reactions among Kenyans.
According to a section of Kenyans, the handshake was a good thing for Kenya as country, as it played a big role in cooling the political temperatures that was witnessed after the August 8 General Election.
There is another group of Kenyans who are of the opinion that the handshake brought about national unity and a conducive environment for investors, in turn boosting the country’s economy.
Others, however, feel that the Uhuru-Raila handshake was a cosmetic process that only benefitted the two leaders, and did not heal the country. They want another ‘Corruption Handshake’ to help quell the long list of corruption scandals that has plagued Kenya.