By Our Reporter
NATIONAL
On Monday, 26th February, 2024, an unlikely and historical event happened in President Museveni’s Kisozi ranch in Uganda; Kenyan President, William Samoei Ruto met with his erstwhile political nemesis, Raila Odinga and held a heartwarming discussion.
This meeting was organized by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and he decided it had to take place in a relaxed atmosphere where only three of them could talk without any eavesdroppers.
To confirm that this was President Museveni’s initiative, Raila Odinga who lost to Ruto in the last Presidential election revealed that he received an invitation from President Museveni for a joint meeting with President Ruto.
“Several days ago, I accepted an invitation from President Kaguta Museveni of Uganda for a joint meeting with President Williams Ruto today to discuss the deepening of regional integration within the East African Community,” Odinga posted.
Among the key issues discussed was Raila Odinga’s candidacy for Chairperson of the African Union Commission. For Odinga’s candidacy to succeed there has to be a Presidential nod from the leader of his country. To this effect, his candidacy would be a non-starter without the backing of President Ruto.
A tweet by Baba Raila Odinga confirms that the meeting led to his endorsement by President Museveni and backing from President Ruto.
“I am very grateful to President Museveni for strongly endorsing my candidacy and to President Ruto for fully backing it,” says Raila.
This is assertion is confirmed by Ruto’s own post where he says,” Also discussed was the declared candidacy of Kenya’s former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga.”
Meanwhile President Ruto says, they discussed critical issues that affect the two countries such as energy and petroleum.
The two Principals extensively discussed and agreed on a way forward of sourcing and scheduling imports (esp petroleum) for the region in a manner that will ensure we achieve the most competitive pricing and maximum logistical efficiency.
“I am glad that the issues affecting the flow of petroleum products between Kenya and Uganda are being resolved,” revealed President Ruto.
Presidents Museveni and Ruto also discussed the need for the two countries to urgently pursue the design and construction of the earlier conceptualized Eldoret-Kampala-Kigali refined petroleum product pipeline.
On a broader perspective the three leaders discussed the need to deepen the long-established diplomatic and economic ties between the two countries.
“This relationship includes bringing all the seven East African Community nations closer in their ultimate goal to form the East African Political Federation,” says Ruto.
