With elections behind us, let’s now get back to business

President Uhuru Kenyatta waves to supporters at Kasarani Stadium on November 28, 2017 as he arrives for his swearing-in ceremony. (Photo: Courtesy)

President Uhuru Kenyatta’s swearing-in on Tuesday was won after having meticulously overcome every possible political, electoral and legal challenge.

In hindsight, this was necessary because every opportunity to question the credibility of the polls, the legitimacy of the winner and the undisputed choice of the Kenyan people was resolved through a national validation process in which the people went to the polls twice and the Supreme Court also sat twice in a period of less than three months, as if to clear any previous doubts, and in the process, set the record straight.

Every questions anybody might have had, including the international community, have now been adequately answered.

Uhuru’s victory has also presented him with the perfect opportunity to silence once and for all the cynics who have persistently claimed that the son of Jomo was not his own man and that he ascended to power on the strength of his father’s name. 

First and foremost, these naysayers need to recognise that while still bearing the same Kenyatta name, Uhuru failed to clinch the Gatundu seat in 1997. He also failed to win the presidency in 2002.

This should prove the case that Uhuru’s successes have not been defined by his surname otherwise he would have won in 1997 and 2002. It is Uhuru Muigai who has fought and won; Kenyatta is a coincidence in which he had no choice.

Silver spoon

Then there are those who have argued that Uhuru was born in State House with a silver spoon in his mouth and is a softie who can’t stand on his own feet and win a back street or trench war with battle-hardened street-smart opponents like Raila Odinga. The record has now been set straight.

His trials, tribulations and subsequent triumph have truly affirmed his credentials as the true Kenyan leader and an African statesman who has what it takes to put a now divided, wounded and fragile people back on the track to unity, progress and development.

He has proved that he is his own man. Indeed, no other president of the republic has been exposed to such severe tests of ability and character, calling for the display of resolve, wisdom, grit and fortitude he summoned to prevail.

However, the prolonged electioneering period, with its intrigues, twists and turns, did not test only the President. Our legal system, national cohesion, economy, security apparatus and nationhood have all been tested to the core.

After his swearing-in, the President will inevitably strive to heal the wounds and divisions arising from the election that caused serious divisions among our people, disrupted businesses, caused untold destruction of property, occasioned injuries and loss of life, and even threatened our competitiveness as an investment or tourist destination.

Production line

Our economy is a production line - where input in one part of the country and processes in yet another corner determines our joint national output and builds one brand called Kenya. It will therefore be in our joint national interest that the President succeeds in getting Kenya working again.

A Kenya that is working again will require we all recognise that the electioneering period is over and that another opportunity for us to compete again will present itself in another five years. We must all agree that the country cannot continue in a never-ending electioneering mode.

Let’s send a clear, unified and unambiguous message to the world that Kenya is open for business and that investors’ assets are safe and will bear fruit in Kenya.

Let our visitors see that our towns, roads, beaches and parks are safe to visit so they can bring their much-needed foreign exchange. Let us assure existing investors who provide millions of jobs to our kith and kin and pay taxes to our exchequer that our politics will not lead to destruction of their property or boycott of their products.

When all Kenyans work together in harmony and unity of purpose, we all benefit. Let us therefore support the President - who has truly been tried, tested and proved - to unify and heal the nation for our common good. Let us get Kenya rising again.

 

 Mr Temba is a Communication consultant