African news : breaking news, features, analysis

President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto Sunday exuded confidence that the Jubilee coalition will remain united despite the collapse of the Head of State’s case at the International Criminal Court.

The Jubilee principals termed as lies and propaganda reports that their parties- TNA and URP came together to form the coalition as a result of the ICC cases and told their supporters not to worry.

President Kenyatta also promised to continue to fight for withdrawal of case facing Mr Ruto and journalist Joshua Arap Sang.

On Sunday, President Kenyatta who was accompanied by Mr Ruto, Senators Kindiki Kithure, Kipchumba Murkomen and Lenny Kivuti made a triumph entry to Embu County in his first public meetings after his crimes against humanity charges were dropped by the ICC.

He first attended Jubilee celebrations mass presided over by Cardinal John Njue at St. Paul’s Kevote in MP Cecil Mbarire’s Runyenjes constituency where speaker after speaker hailed the ICC decision and vowed to rally behind him for another term in office come 2017.

“I am thankful to God for what he has done to me. I believe when God is in control everything goes smoothly. When we started, we said we should put God first as I believed I am innocent. The truth has been found. The case has disappeared. The devil has been defeated,” President Kenyatta said.

RUTO AND SANG

The leaders also “prayed” for the cases against Mr Ruto and Sang to be dropped even as the Catholic Church gave President Kenyatta a lion and giraffe carving to “signify the fight he has been having.”

President Kenyatta later joined Mr Ruto at Anglican Church of Kenya cathedral in Embu for inauguration ceremony of Bishop David Ireri before addressing scores of people at the town’s bus stage.

A jovial President Kenyatta who said he was also celebrating Silver Jubilee of his marriage said: “I thank God for removing the burden on me. It was heavy one fuelled with lies, political influence but at the end as I had said earlier I believe we are innocent God has been true to his word.”

“We have been proved innocent. I believe even my brother Ruto and Sang will be relieved soon. We will continue to fight to ensure it is done to them and they are released. I ask Kenyans to join me in praying for them for the load on them to be removed so that we can work together for the development of this country,” President Kenyatta said.

“We will continue to defend ourselves until we get justice in the two cases,” he added.

Supporting Mr Murkomen’s earlier statement, President Kenyatta and Mr Ruto said Jubilee coalition was borne out of need to unite Kenyans.

Credit: Daily Nation