Focus on building your legacy, dear Mr President

By Harrison M Ikunda

Nairobi, Kenya: I’m one of the people greatly happy with the launch of the Sh1.2 trillion standard gauge railway that will connect Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan by President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday November 8.

Zeroing in on Kenya, there is so much that is happening and the political changes after the March 4 General Election have brought about a new dynamism.

The fast changes in the economy started soon after Narc won the December 2002 General Election and the new government of President Mwai Kibaki breathed a new lease in economic management. Though Kenya suffered a messy presidential poll in December 2007, this has slowly dissipated.

Despite the challenges in political terms that this nation has been facing, there are urgent measures which the incumbent Jubilee Government has to take if Kenya is to avoid sliding into the past.

The Jubilee leadership under President Kenyatta has wisely followed the path of infrastructural realisation.

Irrespective of having some of the deals having been struck earlier or now, it is impressive that the leadership has kept its eye on the ball.

Moreover, a few disturbing issues may erode the gains and mess the great legacy which clearly President Kenyatta is keen to make.

His focus on infrastructure is something that will build a positive legacy. His keenness to fight some vices that bedeviled past regimes is also commendable.

However, there matters emanating from his government that can mess a well thought out legacy or the good intents that the infrastructure and fighting vices like corruption can build.

The media Bill, the Public Benefit Organisation (NGO) Bill and some moves in the Judiciary seem to send mixed signals.

Clearly his leadership has too much in its hands to get entangled in this unnecessary fights which can dent his legacy.

I personally don’t like taking sides politically as I see the big picture this way.

Nonetheless, I would like to see this presidency achieving something tangible for this dear nation.

With the demographics and employment data seemingly pointing adversely, urgent measures to grow the economy are imperative. I think the President can build a legacy on infrastructure and fighting the vices that keep us backward while creating the requisite environment to spur prosperity.

I wish him well. But this country has deep challenges.

The distractions coming from law making I think should be avoided at all costs.

He has a big chance to build the best legacy so far. Every nation has its challenges and so Kenya can overcome the many it has. The president has the ability to lead this nation to be a great one.