By Tajeu Shadrack Nkapapa
President William Ruto visited former President Uhuru Kenyatta at his family home in Gatundu on Monday, December 9, 2024. According to the State House Spokesperson, Mr. Hussein Mohammed, the two national leaders discussed several issues of national and regional importance.
Taking to X Mr. Hussein said that President Ruto took the opportunity to reiterate his appreciation and commendation of His Excellency President Kenyatta’s statesmanship in overseeing the peaceful transfer of power after the 2022 elections, as well as the goodwill the former President has continued to demonstrate towards his fellow leaders and his support for Kenya’s ongoing progress and development.
“Both leaders acknowledged the challenging global environment affecting many countries, including Kenya, caused by a complex interplay of factors: the disruptive effects of COVID-19, the war in Ukraine – which destabilised supply chains and led to high commodity prices, particularly for fertiliser and wheat – volatile currency markets, and a harsh macroeconomic climate,” Hussein Mohammed wrote on X.
“They noted progress in addressing these adverse impacts, especially in reducing inflation to its lowest level in the past decade, significantly lowering food prices, stabilising the Kenyan shilling, and reducing interest rates,” he added.
The State House Spokesperson added that President Ruto took the chance to thank President Kenyatta for laying a strong foundation that has enabled his administration to implement key programs under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
According to the Kenya Kwanza administration, these programs include transforming agriculture to ensure food security, achieving universal health coverage, providing affordable housing, empowering MSMEs, developing transport and communication infrastructure, last-mile electrification, and re-evaluating and reforming the Competency-Based Curriculum and the education sector in general, among other initiatives.
Both leaders agreed on the urgent need to accelerate these and other programmes to boost household incomes and create more opportunities for Kenyans.
They also emphasized the importance of cultivating a nationalistic, patriotic, and harmonious working relationship among all Kenyans and stakeholders, including the three arms of government, religious leaders, civil society, and other partners, to ensure collective national stability and progress.
“President Ruto and President Kenyatta further called for the prompt resolution of the court matters regarding the constitution of the IEBC selection panel, to facilitate the appointment of commissioners.”
The two leaders also called on Kenyans, friends of Kenya, and international partners to support Hon. Raila Odinga’s candidacy for the position of Chair of the African Union Commission.