President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday urged Kenyans to embrace unity just like the nation's founding fathers did.
Uhuru while recognising the heroes during Jamhuri Day celebrations said the founding fathers put aside their differences for one common goal; to overthrow the colonial order.
“Too many of us have forgotten the power of our unity. Even in the darkness of colonial slavery, our fathers and mothers were one. Patriots like Jomo Kenyatta and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga; Tom Mboya and Makhan Singh; Masinde Muliro and Paul Ngei; Bildad Kaggia and Achieng’ Oneko set aside their differences, and joined hands to overthrow the colonial order. In their unity, they were indomitable; in our disunity, we are defenseless,” said Uhuru at Nyayo stadium.
He said Kenyans should emulate them, noting that they should not soil their achievement by tearing apart what they so painfully united.
“The founding generation would disown whoever makes a Kenyan feel unworthy because of his ethnicity or faith. The founding generation would remind us that whoever steals from the common purse is not just a thief, but an enemy of our unity,” he added.
“And, truly, anyone who lets political competition tip into hatred of another Kenyan is utterly unworthy of their sacrifice.”
He urged Kenyans to shun violence in next year’s elections despite their political differences, and asked leaders to accept the results, or challenge them through the legal means laid down.