Uhuru meets South Sudan leader, assures peace in polls

By DPMPS

Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta yesterday met South Sudan President Salva Kiir Maryadit in Juba city.

The DPM assured President Kiir that the next elections would be peaceful, adding that many political leaders were working together to ensure reconciliation and national unity.

The DPM was accompanied by Cabinet ministers Eugene Wamalwa, Charity Ngilu and Naomi Shaban, and MPs Musikari Kombo, Najib Balala and Kiema Kilonzo.

Uhuru said leaders were determined to form an all-inclusive government whose priority would be stability in Kenya and the region.

President Kiir said only Kenyans had the right to determine who their leaders will be, reiterating they were the shapers of their destiny just like the people of South Sudan.

“The people of South Sudan expressed their will through the referendum in January 2011. So must Kenyans be allowed to do the same,” Kiir said, adding the only role his government had in Kenya’s elections was to preach peace.

He lauded leaders from different political parties who were working and campaigning together.

Yesterday’s visit to South Sudan comes barely a week after Mr Uhuru led another delegation to Burundi where the same group of leaders met with President Pierre Nkurunziza in Bujumbura.

EXTERNAL FORCES

President Nkurunziza had also insisted that Kenyans had the right to elect their own leaders without undue interference from external forces, a message reiterated by Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete when he met an Uhuru-led delegation three weeks ago.

President Kiir disclosed plans to relaunch the Juba-Khartoum pipeline next week after successful completion of negotiations with Sudan.

The Head of State pointed out that South Sudan’s neighbours would be the first to benefit from the  country’s success.

Reponding to concerns over insecurity, the president re-assured them that South Sudan would “do everything” to ensure security of Kenyans within its borders.