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Leaders sound clarion call for peace at Afraha Stadium

Speaking during the ceremony, President Uhuru Kenyatta emphasized the need for peaceful co-existence regardless of tribe or ethnic background/MIKE KARIUKI

Speaking during the ceremony, President Uhuru Kenyatta emphasized the need for peaceful co-existence regardless of tribe or ethnic background/MIKE KARIUKI

NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 17 – A resounding clarion call for peace, forgiveness and reconciliation among Kenyans was the theme for the thanksgiving ceremony attended by the ex-Ocampo six Saturday at the Afraha Stadium in Nakuru.

Speaking during the ceremony, President Uhuru Kenyatta emphasized the need for peaceful co-existence regardless of tribe or ethnic background.

While drawing out the lessons learnt from the Post Election Violence, President Kenyatta stressed the need for everyone to look out for their neighbour.

“We are not here to celebrate but to remember and pray for each other and every single life that was destroyed eight years ago,” he stated.

“So profound was our shock at how much we could risk our nation that we renewed our national covenant by promising to change how we lived with one another and we again laid the covenant in the hands of a forgiving God who gives grace to all sinners.”

The Head of State stressed that this is the only way to ensure that the violence which occurred then does not recur.

“Indeed in the words of Isaiah 60: 18, we said and we say again today that violence shall no longer be heard in thy land, wasting no destruction in thy borders but thou shall call thy walls salvation and thy gates praise,” he said.

He underscored the need for all Kenyans to rededicate ourselves to reconciliation and to building the nation that could more vigorously wage a century old war against poverty, disease and ignorance.

The Head of State indicated that the collapse of their trial in The Hague showed that they had nothing to do with the 2007 post election violence.

Speaking after a grand entry of the six to the Afraha stadium in Nakuru on a white pick-up truck, President Kenyatta stated that despite being wrongfully accused, he has no bitterness.

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“Some of us were committed to the ICC without sufficient hard evidence of the crimes we are being accused of. Indeed, it is a classic example of a victim being labelled the aggressor but by the grace of God, justice has been delivered. I have no bitterness in me and I know my colleagues have no bitterness in them,” he said.

Deputy President William Ruto stated the trial at The Hague should serve as a lesson to all Kenyans on the need to unite.

“We must refuse to be divided and we must resist any attempt for us to be confined to the prison and bondage of the past. We must as Kenyans pick up from where we are and trust our God and move forward,” he said.

Former journalist Joshua arap Sang thanked all Kenyans for standing by them and assured those affected that they were not involved in the chaos.

“I want to tell you that the bible says that we should trust in God in everything we do. We now want to thank God for being released. We should adhere to the words of our National Anthem that emphasise on peace, love and unity,” he stated.

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