'Bro, forgive me!' How Uhuru and Raila buried the hatchet at Kenyan prayer breakfast

Dar es Salaam. There were many laughs and hugs at the 16th National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday morning. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition Raila Odinga have publicly asked for forgiveness for the political rivalry that has brought immense pain to Kenyans.

Speaking at the event, Mr Kenyatta said, “We have campaigned against one another. We have said nasty things about each other. We have hurt one another. On my behalf, Ndugu, I ask for your forgiveness,” he said, and shook hands, adding, “And I tender my apology.”

He said it was time to turn their faces to God and humble themselves before him, because he was certain that He will heal them. ”It’s not a sign of weakness to repent and seek for forgiveness but a sign of great strength,” he said.

President Uhuru said that, they have had differences in political opinion, which shall never be allowed to again cause misery and

bloodshed. Adding that they can agree to disagree and move forward.

With cheers from the people present, he said, “I extend my hand asking for forgiveness to anyone whom knowingly or unknowingly l injured in any manner.”

He told the people, that they started the journey in the hope that it would end violence and strengthen the people to work together in peace and unity.

On that note he invited his, Vice President William Ruto, Mr Odinga and National Super Alliance (NASA) co-principal Kalonzo Musyoka on the stage.

While on stage, they shook hands and hugged among cheers from the congregation where Ruto also asked for forgiveness.

“I tender my apology to all those we have hurt in one way or another, and hope to now move forward as one,” he said.

Moreover, Mr Odinga said that on behalf of all Nasa members, he was thanking President Kenyatta for reaching to a point where they could work together without division, hatred that has been with the people for a long time.

He said that what people don’t know is that before they took the famous handshake in March, they had a long discussion. “We have had long discussions that took a long journey.. We looked at what divided us, and found that we could work together without division, hatred that has been with our people, it should end.

He stressed, never again shall a Kenyan die because of political elections. They then shook hands again and laughed together, binding even further the bond. “Hatred that has existed in our generations, shall end with us,”.

On his part, Mr Musyoka said that it was wrong to be angry because of political outcomes and admitted that he among those that did that.

“We should never be angry with our competitor,” he said.