Uhuru-Raila Handshake: Kenyan Petitions Parliament to Declare March 9th a National Holiday

A Kenyan has filed a petition in Parliament seeking to have March 9th, the day President Uhuru and opposition leader Raila Odinga shook hands declared a national peace day.

In his petition to the National Assembly, Paul Mugo wants Members of Parliament to amend Article 9(3) of the Constitution to include the day as a national holiday to be observed on March 9th of every year.

The petitioner argues that peace has been elusive in the country for decades but the famous handshake has cleared the way for cohesion, peaceful co-existence, tranquillity and a sense of nationhood.

"Of great importance is the concerted effort by both government and the opposition towards achievement of the big four agenda and realisation of the desired socio-economic and political development in the country," reads the petition.

The petition has been tabled before the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee for consideration before it is tabled on the floor of the House.

Kenyatta and Odinga shook hands outside Harambee House on March 9th of this year in a unity pact that has earned them praise from local and international leaders.

The handshake came a few months after last year's acrimonious presidential election that left the country badly divided.