By doing so, the President confronted a subject that has stood out like a sore thumb every five years and created tension since the run-up to multi-party elections in the 1990s. This is as it should be and should be pursued to the logical conclusion to assure the country of free and fair polls.
It was also noteworthy that the President revisited the contentious rollout of the Competency-Based Curriculum - which has caused a hue and cry from stakeholders on the manner of its implementation - by promising to set up a task force to collect views from stakeholders with a view to reforming it. As his government embarks on this delicate task, it is our hope that it is done with the best interests of the learners at heart.
As the new administration moves to unite the country, Ruto has a tough task of rebuilding trust and confidence in government institutions and independent agencies. The same independence must be extended to Parliament, to enable it to discharge its representation, legislative and oversight function effectively and not as an appendage of the Executive.