Kenyatta sworn in as Kenya president

Uhuru Kenyatta was sworn in as Kenyan president for a second five-year term on Tuesday in front of foreign dignitaries and thousands of supporters in the Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi, ending weeks of political and social uncertainty in the country.

In a colorful ceremony, Kenyatta took his oath of office before thousands of Kenyans who had flocked Kasarani Stadium, that has a capacity of 40,000 people.

He vowed to be the leader of all Kenyans and work to unite the country after a bruising and drawn out election process that ended with his swearing-in.

"I will devote my time and energy to build bridges, to unite and bring prosperity," he said.

Wang Jiarui, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, attended the ceremony as the special envoy of President Xi Jinping. It was also attended by nine heads of state, including Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon.

"The presence of the special envoy confirms China's long held stand of continued support to Africa," said Tanaka Chitsa, a political analyst, researcher and writer from Zambia.

It is also a sign that China is taking increased roles in global issues, said David Monyae, a policy analyst and co-director at the University of Johannesburg Confucius Institute.

"It is an indication of respect and gives direction to the international community to respect Kenya's sovereignty and the ruling of its judiciary system. It is in that context that China rightly joined other nations in congratulating President Uhuru on his electoral victory in the recent elections held," he said.

Kenyan experts concur, adding that Kenyatta's swearing in brings political certainty to the country and region at large. "President Kenyatta will be put to task into completing most of the infrastructural projects he had pledged during his first term. His party has a clear majority in the National Assembly and the Senate, giving him an upper hand in pushing through his agenda," said Robert Kagiri, director at Africa Policy Institute, a think tank in Nairobi.

Some of the development projects that he had initiated during his first term include the $3.8 billion standard gauge railway, three berths of the Lamu port at a cost of $480 billion and several major roads that have also been partly funded and are being developed by Chinese companies.

Xinhua and AP contributed to this story.

lucymorangi@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 11/29/2017 page12)