Of presidents and false promises: Will Ruto stay the course in quest to grow economy?

President William Ruto shakes hands with Nominated MP Bishop Jackson Kosgei during an interdenominational prayer at Kericho Green Stadium in Kericho. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

The sun was burning furiously. As its rays cut through the azure blue sky, the earth below shook and cracked. The shrubs and vegetation had been burned into golden brown. The air was still and stifling. A trail of dust appeared in the horizon, following on the tail of a speeding government land rover. Terrified by the approaching sound, a warthog leaped from behind the bushes; a family of Dik Dik scattered and ran helter-skelter. The driver slowed down near a bend. Another land rover had blocked his way. As he lowered his window to inquire, a group of men, armed with assault rifles, jumped from the stationary vehicle and opened fire.

After the sound of gunfire had died down, a powerful wind blew, spewing dust on the blood-soaked vehicle as if mourning the deaths. A Cambridge trained young administrator, Daudi Dabasso Wabera, the District Commissioner Isiolo, had just been murdered for being a mediator in a country that was approaching its independence. This was on June 28, 1963.