In a hurry? Here’s a quick summary…
- Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta resurfaced in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, for the 15th AU High-Level Retreat on peace and stability in Africa, dispelling rumors about his health.
- Close ally Pauline Njoroge dismissed recent claims that Uhuru was critically ill, calling them baseless and harmful.
Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta has resurfaced, following months of speculation about his health.
On Thursday, the Office of the Fourth President, through spokesperson Kanze Dena, shared on X (formerly Twitter) that Uhuru had arrived in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
His visit is ahead of the 15th High-Level Retreat, a summit aimed at promoting peace and stability across the African continent.
The retreat, convened by the African Union (AU) Commission, will focus on evaluating the impact of the AU’s efforts in addressing conflicts within Africa.
Photos shared online showed the former president in discussions with senior AU officials, including Bankole Adeoye, the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security.
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In the post, Dena stated: “His Excellency President (Rtd) Uhuru Kenyatta arrives in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, ahead of the 15th High-Level Retreat on the Promotion of Peace, Security, and Stability in Africa. The retreat, convened by the African Union Commission, will focus on the Impact and Sustainability of AU Preventive Diplomacy and Mediation in addressing conflicts across the continent.”
Uhuru appeared in good spirits upon his arrival, dispelling recent rumors about his health.
Since handing over the presidency to William Ruto, he has been actively involved in peace initiatives in conflict-ridden regions, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, and Rwanda.
In late September, rumors began circulating online, claiming that the former president was critically ill and had sought medical attention. These claims surfaced after Uhuru’s last public appearance on June 14, 2024, in Nigeria.
However, one of Uhuru’s close allies, Pauline Njoroge, debunked the rumors, accusing certain individuals of spreading false information.
“Someone wakes up, creates a fictional story, and posts it on social media. But this time, it’s about someone’s health, claiming that the person is critically ill and in the ICU. Why would a normal human being do such a thing? To what end? Likes?” Njoroge questioned.