Ruto Gives Uhuru Another Task As Peace Envoy

President William Ruto has given his predecessor, Uhuru Kenyatta his second assignment since he appointed his former boss as the peace envoy to Ethiopia and the Great Lakes Region.

Speaking on Friday, November 11, when he met Huang Xia, Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary General to the Great Lakes Region, President Ruto stated that Uhuru would lead the Nairobi Peace Process in the coming days.

He assured that Kenya was dedicated to end conflicts in the region to bring stability, adding that the country will commit to achieving regional peace and security.

"Nairobi Peace Process will resume in a matter of days under the leadership of former President Uhuru Kenyatta.

President William Ruto speaking while addressing the Association of Pension Trustees and Administrators of Kenya on November 11, 2022. /FILE

"Kenya is fully committed and wholly invested in the achievement of regional peace and security. We will support all initiatives to end conflict and bring stability and prosperity to East Africa and the Great Lakes Region," President Ruto said.

The Head of State further urged the international community through the United Nations (UN) to put more resources into the peace efforts by East and Southern Africa nations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

He recently flagged off a contingent of Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldiers to the Eastern DRC for a peacekeeping mission.

Ruto assured that the KDF was ready to tackle peace missions and that he will support the DRC in restoring peace in the affected region.

Uhuru successfully delivered in his first international assignment as envoy in Pretoria, South Africa where he, alongside other delegates, secured a truce between Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the leadership of Tigray, ending a civil war in the neighbouring country that lasted two years.

Addressing journalists after the pact was signed between Abiy and the Tigray Leadership, Uhuru assured that there was one solution to end conflicts between leaders.

“Violence bullets and guns will not be the solution ultimately as has been the case with the warring Ethiopian parties today. The lasting solution can only come through political dialogue. People sit, engage and agree that they have differences because they do.

“But agree that the lasting solution can only be through political engagement, political dialogue and being able to accommodate differences and diversity, while still remaining a United Ethiopia or for that matter a United Africa,” he said.

President Ruto on the same day commended his predecessor for his efforts in negotiating peace between the leadership bodies during his assignment in South Africa.

“I commend the AU Panelists, H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of Nigeria and AU High Representative for the Horn of Africa; H.E Uhuru Kenyatta, former President of Kenya; H.E Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuke former South African deputy President, for their facilitation and tireless efforts, wisdom and patience, and most of all, for their unity of purpose that brought this day of peace that heralds a bright future for the people,” Ruto said.

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta speaking in Pretoria, South Africa after a peace deal was signed between the Ethiopian government & Tigray rebels.

????: @CHANSONromain pic.twitter.com/hpKMqXLLzu — Viral Tea Ke (@ViralTeaKe) November 2, 2022