Uhuru, Raila Take BBI Talk to Trump’s Government

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President Uhuru Kenyatta with US President Donald Trump in White House, Washington DC

The two protagonists in the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga are, this week, expected to attend the US 68th national prayer breakfast meeting slated for February 5 and 6, 2020.

Raila, who left the country on Sunday evening for Washington DC, had been invited to a connected event referred to as the International Lunch together with the president, according to reports.

The two leaders are expected to address the meeting and share their reconciliation that led to the March 2018 Handshake and the subsequent BBI.

During a BBI rally at Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega, Raila made reference to himself and President Kenyatta meeting in the US to discuss the Handshake because ‘it is a unique thing’.

“The handshake has got many people talking. I was recently invited to Togo to help them find a way to work together with the opposition in that country. This time around, President Kenyatta and I have been invited to Washington, DC, in February to the National Prayer Breakfast so that we can tell them more about the handshake, because it is a unique thing,” he said then.

The theme of prayer breakfast hosted by United States Congress and organized by the Fellowship Foundation in Washington DC is “Reconciliation, Faith and Peace Building”.

“As the keynote speakers for the lunch, we would like to ask you to share your personal journey of faith and reconciliation,” a part of the invitation reads.

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Raila with other leaders during a BBI rally in Mombasa

The President, who is banking on the BBI as one of his key legacies when he vacates office in 2022, is expected to travel on Monday according to State House Spokesperson Kanze Dena.

“Part of the reason the President and the former PM have been invited to attend the US national prayer breakfast is their demonstrated commitment to peaceful and constructive resolution of internal conflicts in Africa, particularly the example the Government of Kenya has set in deepening democratic values, rule of law and inclusive pro-poor development-friendly policies”, said Kanze Dena.

The invite-only event will bring together over 2,000 international guests including political and business leaders, the US Congress, diplomats, and religious leaders.

President Kenyatta is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with senior government officials and leaders in the private sector.

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The US Congress

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