UK Minister for Africa Rory Stewart. [Photo|Daily Mail]
The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office has called on Kenyans to embrace dialogue as the country transition from a lengthy electioneering period to a moment of 'relative calm'.
UK Minister for Africa Rory Stewart has said that the inauguration of President Uhuru Kenyatta presents Kenya with a chance to move forward.
"I hope that all Kenyans will recognise the need now for national dialogue and healing. Today marks the moment where Kenya can move forward after a prolonged, divisive, election period in a new spirit of reconciliation," Stewart said on Tuesday as quoted by Daily Nation.
Stewart was in Nairobi for the inauguration and held talks with President Uhuru Kenyatta after the ceremony.
He and President Kenyatta discussed the future of the wide-ranging partnership shared by Kenya and its former colonial master, and that the UK welcomed the president’s commitment to national unity.It was his first official visit to Kenya since his appointment as joint Minister of State for the Department for International Development and Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in June.He also passed on a message of congratulations from the UK Prime Minister and also invited President Kenyatta to the Commonwealth Summit in London next year.