He did not acknowledge that such an apology was recommended, two years earlier, by the national Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) in its final report.
But the statement Kenyatta made with opposition leader Raila Odinga did not mention the TJRC or its report either, even though they had addressed the issues raised in their statement.
As a candidate for the August 2017 presidential election, Odinga - and his lieutenants - had made the TJRC report a campaign issue, calling on the government to implement it as a way of addressing historical injustices in Kenya.
Prior to March 2018 Odinga and other opposition leaders said they would not recognise Kenyatta's government after successfully challenging the results of the August 2017 presidential election and boycotting the repeat October 2017 election.
The TJRC, whose mandate ended with the publication of the report, recommended the government form an implementation committee to oversee and coordinate the work needed to make the TJRC's wide-ranging recommendations a reality.
