Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta received at the State House in Nairobi on Wednesday the four recently released South Sudanese politicians, including former SPLM secretary-general Pagan Amum, ex-security chief Oyai Deng, Ambassador Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth and ex-deputy defense minister Dr Majak D’Agoot.

The Kenyan leader has urged the four detainees to “participate fully” in regional initiatives to stop the ongoing fighting, according to a press statement by the Kenyan Presidency.

He said the release of the four detained with seven others in January this year “is a first step to the reconciliation process in the world’s youngest nation.”

With no more high-level political detainees being held by the South Sudanese government, “the country and the region can now single-mindedly and without distraction focus on the cessation of hostilities,” the Kenyan leader was quoted as saying.

The four release politicians last week announced their intention to travel to Kenya and also to Ethiopia in order to meet rebel leader Riek Machar to urge him to bring peace to the country

Kenyatta also expressed his appreciation to the South Sudanese leader Salva Kiir for taking “bold steps” to release all political detainees.

“The President said the steps taken by the Government of President Kiir are in the right direction and a sign of good will in the opening up of humanitarian corridors to create a conducive atmosphere for displaced citizens to return home and rebuild their lives,” reads the pres statement.

Also present during the talks yesterday was Kenyan Foreign Affairs and International Trade Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed.