Will Uhuru leave a legacy? Kenyans speak

Once an elected president serves his or her constitutionally allocated time, they are required to step down. This is a practice that is embraced in most countries across the world except for a few that are ruled by despots or Monarchs.

In the case of the Republic of Kenya, President Uhuru Kenyatta’s term comes to an end in August, when the country will be heading to the polls. He will be retiring but will remain actively engaged in politics if his current moves are anything to go by.

After 10 years at the country’s top job, each retiring president is expected to at least leave a legacy that they will be remembered for, once out of office.

Late President Daniel Moi, the second President of Kenya, is remembered for the free milk program he rolled out in the 90s across all public schools. Some Kenyans describe him as a force of stability because, during his rule, Kenya remained stable at a time when other African countries were falling apart.

Uhuru’s predecessor, President Mwai Kibaki is remembered for starting free primary and secondary education where students even received free exercise and textbooks provided by the government.

He is also remembered for championing rural electrification and construction of major roads, key among them, the Thika Super Highway, which helped ease traffic from within the Nairobi City and its environs.

However, when it comes to President Uhuru, and despite the infrastructure developments his government has highly executed and continues to, the question of whether he will leave a legacy still receives mixed reactions from Kenyans.

The Star spoke to some Kenyans on whether they felt Uhuru would leave a legacy once he retires and here is what they had to say;

“In his second term, the President has tried and I think in health and infrastructure, Uhuru will leave a legacy.  As a resident of Nairobi, road projects have changed the face of the city with the four bypasses and the soon to be commissioned expressway,” a city-based journalist, Mutono said.

“People living in the informal settlements can now access Healthcare services without having to travel to KNH (Kenyatta National Hospital) all due to the construction of the 28 hospitals... These are all great achievements that I will greatly remember Uhuru for.”

According to Paul Shiundu, who is a music producer, Uhuru will leave a legacy of foreign debt, high cost of living, and runaway corruption.

He noted that uniting the opposition was the President’s gateway to hurt mwananchi more because it made things easier for him.

“Completing Kibaki’s infrastructure projects and the idea that roads are more important than food is a legacy Uhuru will leave behind.”

Laura Obayo, a city resident, said that the President having endorsed his two-time competitor Raila Odinga, his victory in the coming polls will have his legacy cast in stone.

She insisted that if Raila wins in the August 9 polls, it will put Uhuru in the league of leaders who went out of their way to bridge the gap of tribalism and inclusion.

“He will be the man who put tribalism aside and included the most politically marginalized people in his government albeit not officially,” Obayo said.

She, however, noted that Uhuru did little for the country in his first term, perhaps because of intimidation from his deputy William Ruto.

Most of those who were asked the same question agreed with an infrastructure legacy but also pointed out that the economy had deteriorated.

“The only legacy he will leave behind is road construction,” Janice Anyula said.

Masila on his part stated, “Infrastructure part is on point but in his tenure, we have experienced a high cost of living, the only legacy he will leave behind.”

Were, a resident of Mombasa, said that by supporting Raila and assuring him victory, that alone is a legacy.

“No one would have thought so.”

Some of the Key development projects the President has taken on since he was elected into office include; The Nairobi Expressway, which will reduce travel time from Rironi to JKIA from three hours to just 20 minutes. 

The other is the Standard Gauge Railway, which has revolutionized cargo transport from the port of Mombasa to the rest of the country. It has also reduced travel time for passengers and cargo to and from the Coastal city of Mombasa.

Revamping of the Meter Gauge Railway almost two decades after it collapsed will also count as part of Uhuru's legacy.

The President is currently rolling out the universal Health Care programme under his Big 4 agenda blueprint.

These are just but some of the initiatives Uhuru’s government has been working on as well as affordable housing which is also part of the Big 4.