Kenya:Rare grand reception for Uhuru in Kisumu

By Samuel Ouma

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday received a warm welcome from the residents of Kisumu town.

The president, who is on the development tour at the lakeside city, was welcomed by songs and dances.

The ecstatic residents waved placards praising the Head of State and his handshake brother the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

The President was forced to wave atop his vehicle as the crowd cheered wildly.

 On Thursday morning, President and Odinga held a closed-door meeting with leaders hailing from Nyanza region.

The meeting was branded a consultative forum but its main agenda is still unknown.

It was attended by four governors, senators, women representatives, MPs, deputy governor, the Kisumu County Assembly Speaker and MCAs.

Previously, President Kenyatta experienced cold reception in the region and was heckled several times owing to the then frosty relationship between him and Odinga. Thanks to the handshake, now he is one of the leaders celebrated in Nyanza which is the AU envoy’s stronghold.