With the Supreme Court having upheld the presidential election, the sovereign will of the Kenyan people was expressed democratically with finality.
And with Kenyans having reposed confidence in the court’s decision, it is now time to place the elections in the rear-view mirror and rally behind President William Ruto and his government.
Following his election, President Ruto has the national democratic mandate to engage with all Kenyans in the pursuit of the country’s peace and prosperity.
Under the 2010 Constitution, there are structures for inclusive political participation for citizens to articulate what their needs are at the national and county level. This is a critical aspect of political participation and inclusion.
Against this new political dispensation, it’s a welcome that the President has embarked on a visit to opposition stronghold. In his visit on October 2, he carried a message to follow evidence-based scientific analysis, which showed Nyanza counties and Homa Bay in particular, were suitable for agricultural development with specific reference to growing cotton.
Perhaps more than ever before in Kenya’s recent political history, the presidential campaigns in the last elections were issue-based across Kenyan communities. This should be the new direction for Kenya while moving away from ethnic politics.
The President’s vision for agricultural production should be matched by the growth of industries in the regions in which specific forms of produce have a comparative advantage, such as cotton in Nyanza counties, or Sugar in the Mumias region. As a result, the regions of Kenya will collectively contribute to the economic development of the country, according to their measure of economic strength and output.
As the President embarks on implementing his agenda, rather than out rightly opposing the government’s every move, the opposition will need to step up and play their indispensable role of putting forward alternative socio-economic and political programmes where they disagree.
The opposition should hold the government to account in the context of existing legal and political structures at the county governments and their respective executive and legislative organs, right up to the National Assembly and the Senate.
The Constitution prescribes for the Minority leader in the National Assembly and the Senate, and Kenyans expect these positions and those of opposition political parties in the counties to effectively discharge their responsibilities of representation and holding the county and national governments to account.
This entails orderly processes of the conduct of opposition and of taking the new government to account in accordance with the exisiting constitutional framework. By holding a peaceful democratic election, Kenyans have spoken, voiced their will and determination, to live in peace, freedom, and sphere of development.
In doing so, Kenyans should not be oblivious to the struggles of the past that have won peace, freedom, and opened up their opportunities of growth and development.
In this context, there should be due recognition in Kenya’s political history and future of the personal sacrifices made and of the indelible role Raila Odinga has played in urging and fighting to bring about democracy, human rights, constitutional reforms that led to the 2010 Constitution, including devolution.
His legacy stands for itself in addition to, or quite apart from, his many attempts at the presidency. For him, the role of a statesman beckons post the 2022 general election. He should graciously embolden himself in.
Atieno Oduor is a development consultant