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Uhuru stops speech for special handshake with Babu Owino [Photo]

May 2, 2018 4:19 PM

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President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday caused a moment of excitement at the State of the Nation Address after he stopped for a moment of handshake with Opposition leaders led by Embakasi MP Babu Owino.

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President Kenyatta was speaking on the need for leaders across the political divide to encourage reconciliation and apologise to each other over what may have gone wrong during the election season.

"We leaders must admit we failed last year in our effort to preserve unity. Let us each apologise for our words and malice that Kenyans heard during the 2017 elections. Let us shake hands," President Kenyatta stated.

After the statement, the head of state paused for a moment as MPs started shaking hands to symbolise the President's message.

Babu went the extra mile and reached out for Uhuru's hand as he stood on the Presidential podium set up next to the speaker's chair.

The 2018 State of the Nation Address marked the first time that Opposition MPs were listening to the President's speech since 2015.

During the 2016 address, Opposition legislators disrupted the address with physical fights, and whistles. They then boycotted the 2017 State of the Nation Address.