We all won even if our polls lost their shine

Ballot boxes during a voting demo at the Bomas of Kenya, August 6, 2022. [Samson Wire, Standard]

It is refreshing that we came out of the nail-biting August 9 General Election unscathed despite scary prophecies by many agents of doom out there.

They say baby steps are the royal road to skill and perfection. Even if our electoral processes aren't out of the woods yet, we made promising steps whose dividends will rejuvenate our democratic potency.

It can only get better going forward. Kenya has come a long way. We saw how 2007 and 2017 elections led to senseless killings, including that of Baby Pendo, an innocent soul who knew nothing about politics.

Many families with election scars are still bleeding and cursing. Consciously, however, I refuse to see the peaceful 2022 elections and last Monday's Supreme Court verdict as a win for a few tribes as dull-witted observers have claimed in various banters. The poll, with its feats and fiascos, was about Kenya, and tested the potency of its institutions. Like it or not, we all won.

Elections must not always be a life and death affair. Granted, this beloved country is bigger and more important than William Ruto, Raila Odinga and the hammier Mwaures and Wajackojas of this world.

In this column just before we voted, I beseeched Raila and Ruto to recall Prof George Saitoti's philosophy that a nation will always be greater than an individual and that whatever the outcome, they must recall the sore sacrifices of our forefathers whose gallantry birthed this republic.

Indeed, pain and gain for a good purpose is a win for all. Raila and Ruto decide on peace. This is a great measure of their worth. In my humble view, there are important political and life lessons to draw from these two gentlemen.

Ruto's meteoric rise in the public space motivates us not to relent in our pursuits no matter the impediments. He teaches us the value of setting goals and abiding by them. In Ruto, we learn that what seems far afield is tenable with the right effort, investment and attitude.

The incoming President knows how to protect his space. He has mastered the art of building alliances by way of great organisational and messaging skills that grow his sway among friend and foe. In short, the man is sharp.

He must now move beyond the seething campaign mode and adopt the mien of father figure who brings everyone onboard. After all, every Kenyan will be a stakeholder in his government.

Tongue-in-cheek quips against those who opposed his bid, be they unions, scribes or 'system' people are of no use now. By his own pledge, he will unify the nation. His allies should work in tow. They must make gainful sacrifices, however hard, and serve with humility.

With President Kenyatta and Raila largely out of the way, there shouldn't be any scapegoats. It's not time for who did what and who didn't. The election is all but in the past now, done and dusted!

Raila, meanwhile, scored larger-than-life goals in many hearts. It is settled that his fidelity to his core principles and his staying power are unmatched even if he didn't become president.

In him, there was an unwavering devotion to the finest norms of politics badly needed by any poor but divide country like ours. For fear of life in ignominy afterwards, the ODM chief avoided cutting corners even if he could. His fatal mistake was perhaps over-trusting the doctrine of constitutionalism.

As he misses out on the joy of his long and most colourful political journey, his image overshadows many who fancied belittling him.

Raila can choose to keep up the good fight or abandon Kenyans up the creek. He knew that good is always hard. Just like Sophocles, a Greek tragedian, he failed by honour. Yet, not every hero is feted, only missed once their time is up and when things go south. Kenya Kwanza is up to the task. What we need is unity of purpose.