President Uhuru Kenyatta has appealed to residents of Nakuru to vote for the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition presidential candidate Raila Odinga in the August election.
Uhuru said that on Wednesday during the commissioning of the Nakuru Railway Station in Nakuru City.
He said the handshake between himself and Raila was aimed at bringing Kenyans together and letting peace prevail, the same way he embraced the Kenya Kwanza Alliance presidential candidate William Ruto.
Uhuru took a subtle swipe at Kenya Kwanza leaders, saying they needed to gain some political maturity by cutting down on insults before seeking the leadership of the country.
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“Our counterparts are part of us but it seems they need time to settle, stop the insults, rushing and also know that working and honesty exceeds insults and hatred,” Uhuru said.
"Let them stay like that for now, there is still time, and there is no problem."
The Head of State defended the handshake and said he opted to make peace with Raila for the sake of peace in Kenya just as he joined hands with Ruto in 2013 to bring their two previously feuding communities namely Kikuyu and Kalenjin together and asked if he was wrong to seek peace.
“Is the search for peace a bad thing? My stand has always been to promote peace. When I said that we should come together with the Kalenjins and Ruto, didn't peace prevail? Did I make a mistake in seeking to mend fences with Odinga?” Uhuru posed.
The president also urged members of the public to vote for Azimio coalition-affiliated candidates to allow Raila’s government to deliver its pledges.
“Even though you have agreed to support Raila, how about these other people? What will happen if he won’t have people to work with?” Uhuru asked.
"Now, Lee Kinyanjui here wants to complete what he started, Arama should also complete…Senator is here, Women Representative and MCAs."
Uhuru seems to be on a last-minute mission to ensure Raila garners more votes in the August 9 election and succeeds him as the president of Kenya.