Wilfred Muchire
15 June 2008
Nairobi — Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Saturday visited President Kibaki's home district for the first time since the formation of the grand coalition government and asked Kenyans to forgive one another.
Mr Odinga, said Kenyans should forget the past and forge ahead.
"We all saw what happened. Let's forgive each other so that we can move ahead and let's be our brother's keeper," Mr Odinga told thousands of Catholic faithful who were gathered at Ruring'u stadium to witness the installation of Archbishop Peter Kairu as the new head of the Nyeri Archdiocese.
Mr Odinga landed at Nyeri Technical Training Institute in a military chopper where he was welcomed by local leaders led by Gender and Children's Affairs Minister Esther Murugi and Mr Maina Kahihia.
The ceremony was also attended by Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, Ministers Martha Karua and Joseph Nyaga, MPs Kabando wa Kabando, F.T. Nyammo, Ephraim Maina and newly-elected Embakasi legislator Ferdinand Waititu.
The Pope's representative in Kenya, Archbishop Alain Paul Lebeaupin, John Cardinal Njue, Bishops and Catholic priests graced the ceremony.
Like Mr Odinga, Ms Karua, Mr Musyoka and Cardinal Njue revisited the post-election violence and called for tolerance.
The Vice-President challenged the clergy to question politicians' deeds instead of keeping quiet. Mr Musyoka told Kenyans to be wary of leaders who preached hatred.
The protocol issue emerged with Bishop Philip Sulumeti, who was the master of ceremony, wondering what to do.
Eventually, Mr Musyoka spoke last since he had the President's message.
Archbishop Kairu, 67, takes over from Archbishop Nicodemus Kirima, who died in November last year.
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