By PAUL MUTUA

Nairobi, Kenya: The out-going Vice President Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka has said the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) fought a good battle and told its followers that theirs was just a brief political break.

Kalonzo said CORD team led by Prime Minister Raila Odinga will have another chance to try again. He asked the supporters to pray for him and Raila on that achievement.

The VP called on President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta to embrace peace, unity and national cohesion in his leadership to heal the country that was nearly polarized during the March 4 General Election.

“The nation needs to forge ahead in unitary cord regardless of one’s ethnicity, colour or creed. It is therefore upon Uhuru’s team to build a unified nation,” he said.

Kalonzo said he will still be relevant and will continue to serve the country in other spheres despite CORD having lost in the elections.

The VP spoke during a farewell staff members’ party he hosted at his Nairobi’s Karen residence on Friday night.

“I want to praise the evolution of Kenyan democracy. It is in the right path for greater future,” he said.

Flanked by his wife Pauline Kathini, Kalonzo thanked the entire Ministry Staff for their cooperation, noting that their dedication to service delivery had earned the ministry great recognition in many quarters.

“It has been an exciting career for me in politics for the last 28 years and I am still strong in this calling of service to the people. All has been well and we thank God for everything,” he said.

Kalonzo said he is grateful and proud to have been part of the team player as he served the country in various capacities that included, Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Environment, Tourism and Information, Education and more importantly in the Ministry of Home Affairs upon his appointment as the Vice President.

The VP called on them to be agents of change, particularly in the implementation of various reforms and the Constitution as well as in the fight against negative ethnicity.

The Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Vice President, Dr Ludeki Chweya commended the staff in the ministry for their dedication and professionalism in service delivery.

Dr Chweya told those who had been working in the Office of the Vice President on contractual basis not to worry, assuring them that the ministry had taken the matter with the Public Service Commission with a view to retaining them into the mainstream civil service.

Those in attendance included the Commissioner General of Prisons Services Isaiah Osugo among other senior staff of the ministry and invited guests.