Moon also assured the president-elect of UN’s support for his government once he formally takes over leadership from outgoing president Mwai Kibaki. Photo/AFP.
In the telephone conversation, the UN boss congratulated Kenyatta for his victory as Kenya’s fourth president after the court confirmed the elections were free and fair.
Moon also called Odinga separately to commend him on his decision to concede defeat after the court’s decision.
“The Secretary-General also spoke to Prime Minister Raila Odinga. He commends the Prime Minister’s participation in the process and his acceptance of the outcome following the decision of the Supreme court,” a statement from his office in New York said.
The Secretary-General hailed Kenyans for holding peaceful and credible elections which he said “should serve to strengthen Kenya’s democracy and its unity”.
He assured the president-elect of UN’s support for his government once he formally takes over leadership from outgoing president Mwai Kibaki.
“The Secretary-General wishes the newly-elected government and people of Kenya every success in meeting the many challenges and opportunities facing Kenya. The United Nations pledges its strong support,” the brief statement said.
Meanwhile, the president-elect has hailed most of the Kenyans for maintaining peace after the Supreme Court verdict which handed him victory.
Kenyatta said Kenyans had been remarkably peaceful before, during and after the elections.
He called on Christians and Kenyans in general to continue praying for peace and tranquility because the country needed to be stable for the economy to grow.
“It is that peace that will give us the ability to deliver and it is that peace that will enable us all to work together to achieve the dreams, goals and aspirations of all Kenyans wherever they are,” Kenyatta stated.
Speaking at a Sunday church service at the St Austin’s church in Nairobi, Kenyatta said his immediate task was to reconcile the nation for the sake of harmony and development.
The President-elect urged all Kenyans to unite and re-dedicate themselves to building the nation.
“Mine is to promise you that together with my team we have re-dedicated ourselves to do everything we can to ensure that we change the lives of Kenyans for the better. We now leave the election behind us,” he said.
Kenyatta will be sworn in as Kenya’s fourth president on April 9, following the Supreme Court decision that threw our Odinga’s petition.
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