Various leaders praise Ruto and Raila for putting Kenya first

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua arriving at his Harambee Annex office, Nairobi on Monday, April 3. [Rigathi, Twitter]

Various leaders have praised President William Ruto and Opposition leader Raila Odinga for forgoing their political wrangles and putting Kenya first.

Top among the list was Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua who took to Twitter to urge Kenyans to resume their businesses after the weekly opposition-led protests were called off on Sunday, April 2 evening.

"All lawbreakers will be swiftly apprehended and prosecuted in accordance with the law. I am happy our economy, which had started showing signs of recovery, is now back on track, Gachagua said while warning hooligans that security officers are on full alert.

Chairperson of the Council of Governors Anne Waiguru also congratulated the two stating that the truce will help the country economically and unify Kenyans.

"I wish to congratulate President William Ruto for exercising reason and restraint and guiding our nation back to constitutionalism and public order. I also wish to thank Raila Odinga for halting their demonstrations and accepting the president's appeal, to rely upon available, legal and harmonious means to resolve issues they consider contentious," Waiguru tweeted.

Waiguru, who is also the Kirinyaga Governor, rallied Kenyans to put aside their political differences and work towards building the nation.

On his part, Daadab Member of Parliament Farah Maalim has claimed that the truce between Ruto and Raila was occasioned by United States top emissary Senator Chris Coons who visited Kenya last week and had a sit down with the two.

Senator Coons visited Kenya with a congressional delegation of US Senate and House Representatives on March 29 where held meetings with Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Mr Odinga.

"The biggest game changer here is not the church, the religious sector, or the political class. It is the American senator Chris Coons. He went and talked to everybody and told them to stand down," Maalim stated on Monday, April 3, when he was hosted for an interview on Citizen TV.

On Sunday, April 2, Azimio leader Raila Odinga called off Monday's anti-govt protests minutes after President Ruto's offer for dialogue. However, Raila Insisted that the protest will resume after one week if no outcome is achieved.