Uhuru Kenyatta calls for peace at Ethiopia National Dialogue Conference closing ceremony

Former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has delivered a powerful call for unity and dialogue during the Ethiopian National Dialogue Conference's closing ceremony in Addis Ababa. Emphasizing the importance of recognizing Ethiopia's diverse communities as a national strength, Kenyatta argued that the path to lasting peace lies in communities' willingness to listen and understand one another.

He stressed that Ethiopia's diversity is not a source of division but a source of national pride, with no community being peripheral to the nation's story. For Kenyatta, dialogue is a simple yet powerful tool for overcoming differences and building a shared future. He celebrated the breadth of Ethiopia's cultural and historical inheritance, highlighting communities and traditions from various parts of the country such as Oromia, Gambela, and beyond.

The Oromo Gadaa system, an indigenous knowledge system, also deserved greater international recognition, according to Kenyatta. By framing Ethiopia’s national story as one "written by many hands" rather than a single hand, Kenyatta underscored the idea that unity does not require uniformity. He challenged the common perception of Ethiopia as merely highlands and ancient stone churches, instead presenting the country as a tapestry of rivers, forests, wetlands, pastoral plains, and Nilotic culture.

Kenyatta repeatedly stressed the importance of dialogue, mutual understanding, and peaceful coexistence, making it clear that communities must engage with one another to overcome differences. His message ultimately framed Ethiopia’s diversity as an asset that can underpin reconciliation when communities are given the space to listen, understand, and participate in shaping a common future.

As the National Dialogue Conference closed, Kenyatta's most memorable message remained one of shared ownership: "Ethiopia's greatness was never written by one hand; it was written by many hands."