The opposition are your brothers not enemies: My open letter to President Uhuru

Mr. President, as your receive congratulatory messages from across the world, the task ahead is heavy. You don’t need a prophet or an angel to appear in deity white garments to tell you that the country is deeply divided. The fractured state of affairs requires an immediate attention.

Our national equanimity is tested, frail and you have the duty to strengthen it. The reality is that bitterness, hatred, and tribalism have almost hit the apex than never before. There are some feelings of exclusion in the past five years of your leadership which should be redeemed in your last five year of the second term.

The road ahead seems foggy, muddy and slippery but you have no option but to navigate through for Kenya to move forward. It is time you shed off young, sycophantic and power hungry advisers and surround yourself with some wise, experienced and mature advisers.

As a leader, never have a hungry person for an adviser. President Kibaki had the likes of Professor Kivutha Kibwana and Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi amongst other brilliant minds that helped him propel the economy he’s remembered for to date.

This is not the time to lead with a heavy hand like Okwonko to the recalcitrant and divergent voices. Recently at the burial of Dr. Wahome Gakuru, Aden Duale advised you to change tact and be brutal. You can be feared and not respected with brutality.

Never rely on the power of the police and military to rule. The two have helped leaders wield power despotically without a legacy in other nations. That’s not the road Kenya should go.

It is worth noting that Raila Odinga is no longer an opposition leader. To his dedicated supporters, he’s more of a religion and a spiritual leader to the likes of Dalai Lama than just a mere political leader. Tread carefully with him despite the pressure, push and provocation he or they may put on your government. 

Do not take him and his supporters as enemies. Instead, work for the best to enable them to feel a sense of belonging. As Robert Greene says in the second law of power, working with an enemy can be so beneficial than a friend.

You always call each other brother, we want to see that brotherhood in national building, not the power struggle. You declined his call for dialogue before the October elections and so do not expect him to easily accept yours. 

There’s urgent need for national dialogue, healing, and reconciliation. Both those who voted for you and boycotted are now under your leadership. Like a father, you do not show open bias to some of your children to safeguard tranquility even if you do not like their behaviour. Kenya needs you as a father than a mere epitome of a political party.

Mr. President, do not be held hostage and preoccupied with the 2022 succession politics and forget your core mandate. While your deputy will be setting the ground for 2022, you are preparing yours for a legacy thereafter. If this conflict is not balanced, you’ll be found off guard by time as five years are not many. 

Of all the presidents before you, you are leading in a moment that Kenya has never been before. You may need to seek the indulgence of the almighty to lead in this delicate season.

Any slightest mistake can cost the country’s peace and economy that have already been jeopardized by the long electioneering period. But this does not mean that you allow the law of the jungle to reign.

Finally, your Excellency, all the appointive jobs should reflect the face of Kenya. These calls for secession and dissatisfaction are based on some communities feeling secluded. Even if it is losing some of your close associates to let Kenya remain a unitary state, so be it.

Never go in the books of history as the president under whose leadership part of Kenya seceded. People will forget a thousand good things and remember the one wrong thing you did. It is your time to either make or break the Kenyan spirit of national hood and brotherliness.