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JILLO KADIDA: Open letter to the former President Uhuru Kenyatta

Most former Presidents went into retirement and were forgotten just like that.

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by JAMES MBAKA

Opinion08 October 2022 - 08:02

In Summary


  • • It is important that even as you enjoy your retirement you find a way or ways of making use of your talents which will have immense impact on society.
  • • Luckily for you unlike many Kenyans you have good connection with world leaders, you have the financial muscle and you have knowledge on how to run a project given that you led an entire country of 40 million plus citizens for ten good years.
Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta.

I hope that you are enjoying your retirement.

However with retirement comes slowing down of activities.

Most former Presidents went into retirement and were forgotten just like that.

There's much more you can offer outside political leadership.

It is good for you to take time off and rest but given that you are still a young person endowered with immense talent there's need for you to utilize those talents to benefit the society and fight for a cause.

It is important that even as you enjoy your retirement you find a way or ways of making use of your talents which will have immense impact on society.

Luckily for you unlike many Kenyans you have good connection with world leaders, you have the financial muscle and you have knowledge on how to run a project given that you led an entire country of 40 million plus citizens for ten good years.

Having said that allow me to suggest to you a few things you might consider to do if it pleases you. In our country despite efforts made by government to give free education many kids still don't go to school.

I am talking about kids from far flung areas like Northern Kenya and Turkana where the weather is unforgiving, there's always hunger problem and banditry.

All of this things contribute to destabilizing the learning environment.

With your influence you can start a foundation which will sponsor children from such areas to get proper education, mentor them and be a champion for education.

If this doesn't interest you Mr former President you can be a wildlife champion.

Iconic species such as elephants and rhinos are declining by the day staring at extinction.

Having been a head of state in this nation you have all the information about challenges faced, the poaching menace, the finances needed to protect the iconic species. And because of this you can champion for this cause.

It will have impact on the wildlife, tourism sector of the nation and you will be celebrated for being a man who is living for a cause beyond him.

And if wildlife causes is not your cup of tea you can choose to contribute to helping Kenya cope with effects of climate change.

You do this by picking up the work late Prof Wangari Mathai left. You can start a foundation which will distribute tree seedlings across the country to encourage Kenyans to plant more trees.

This way you will help restore forest cover and be a celebrated climate change champion.

The ball is in your court Mr former President it is up to you to live a life worth celebrating even after public service.

 

Jilo Kadida is a news editor at Radio Africa Group. Her unsolicited opinion does not in any way reflect the position of the Star or that of the Radio Africa Group in General.


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