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2017 KENYA ELECTIONS

Uhuru strikes conciliatory note in speech after inauguration

President Kenyatta stated that the election was not a contest of good versus bad ideas but of different visions and has vowed to work with all Kenyans/PSCU

NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 28 – President Uhuru Kenyatta has struck a conciliatory tone with his opponents, pledging to incorporate their ideas of development as he begins his second and final term in office.

In his maiden address at the Kasarani Stadium where he took the oath of office, President Kenyatta stated that the election was not a contest of good versus bad ideas but of different visions and has vowed to work with all Kenyans.

“We may have chosen different candidates and different visions but each one of us voted for a better life. I too listened carefully to my competitors and in the spirit of inclusivity, I will endeavour to incorporate some of their ideas. This is because the election was not a contest between a good dream and a bad dream. It was a contest between two competing visions,” he said.

The Head of State indicated that he is a leader for all Kenyans regardless of their voting and asked all to respect the Constitution and rule of law.

“Today, we can tell the world that we live under a constitutional order and that our Constitution is not a piece of paper. There is room for improvement but we should not destroy our institutions if they don’t deliver what we want,” he stated.

He also pledged to reach out to all leaders stating that his second term will focus on strengthening ties that bind Kenyans and universal health care.

President Kenyatta further commended the Supreme Court for adjudicating election petitions with independence.

Kenyatta who spoke after his inauguration at the Kasarani Stadium also thanked Deputy President William Ruto for running spirited and energetic national campaigns for his re-election and made note of the support he and Ruto received from First Lady Margaret Kenyatta and Rachael Ruto.

He urged politicians to avoid reckless political rhetoric saying the election cycle in the country had ended, stating that the nation must master the courage to overcome past grievances and uphold the rule of law.

He encouraged Kenyans to live true to ideals of unity as enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic and stated that all Arms of Government will play their roles as constitutionally mandated.

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Kenyatta who spoke after his inauguration took note of a number of initiatives undertaken by the Jubilee Administration over the past five years key among them the construction and completion of the Standard Gauge Railway as among projects that continue to transform the country’s economic and social outlook.

He also noted the expanded rollout of the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) and restoration of the credibility of national exams as witnessed in the recently concluded KCPE exams that recorded no incident of exam leakages or cheating.

On his part, Deputy President William Ruto said he will fully support President Kenyatta in uniting the country in their second and final term in office.

“My friend Mr President, we will stand behind you, we will support you as you build on the foundation of the last four and a half years, building bridges across communities, building bridges of friendship, of unity of brotherhood and all of us must stand firm as Kenyans and say no to hate and resist ethnicity,” he said.

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