Most of us are familiar with the story of an old man who had many sons, who were always falling out with one another. He had often, but to no purpose, exhorted them to live together in harmony and so one day he produced a bundle of sticks bade together and asked them to break them.
Each put forth all his strength, but the bundle resisted all their efforts. Then, cutting the cord, which bound the sticks together, he told his sons to break them separately. “See, my sons,” he exclaimed, “the power of unity! Bound together by brotherly love, you may defy almost every mortal ill; divided, you will fall prey to your enemies.”
After years of anticipation, months of planning and days of anxiousness, the day has finally arrived. Today, millions of Kenyans go to the ballot to decide which direction the nation will take for the next five years.
The decision we make today will reverberate for years to come; the destiny of our nation is now in your hands. We will live with today’s decisions at the ballot until the next election.
I cannot tell you who or which camp to vote for today, but I can urge you to look deep within your conscience and make an informed decision on which leaders you believe will transform our nation and make your lives better
Kenya has lacked good leadership. By electing leaders who have the interests of our nation at heart, we will live better lives. Most of our problems are a result of the bad leaders we elect every election cycle and then we keep complaining for the next five years.
This is not the day to be swayed by waves, party affiliations or tribal cocoons. The decision you make today must be based on reason, and not emotion. You must by now have interrogated the pledges that have been made by all leaders and should be able to weigh and see if they make sense to you and your future.
Kenya is bigger than any one individual and there is a life after politics. Leaders must accept election results or use the appropriate legal channels if dissatisfied. We cannot allow a few individuals to endanger the lives of 50 million Kenyans. Therefore vote peacefully, and deny any warmonger politician who may want to incite our nation.
We must also remain one indivisible nation, and refuse to retreat to tribal cocoons. This is a country of more than 40 tribes that have lived in harmony for years and who should not be divided for political expediency. All tribes belong to one Kenya and we must all shun tribalism and focus on nationalism as the driver of our prosperity.
Every Kenyan, regardless of their tribe, religious or political affiliation, is looking up to a country that will see them meet all their aspirations. Kenyans want a peaceful environment where they can carry on their lives without disruption.
Every Kenyan is looking at a future where they can provide for themselves and their families in a way that they remain prosperous. So, as you vote, think about this and picture how you want your life to be years from now.
The leaders who you vote for today should be those that will put in place mechanisms that allow you to achieve this. Do not be swayed by the rhetoric that you have heard over the last few weeks in campaign rallies.
Do not allow bribes to sway you to make a decision that does not meet your aspirations and those of your fellow Kenyans. Do not be swayed to block other Kenyans from making their own decision at the ballot too.
Get out to vote today, make your voice heard and vote your conscience for the leaders you believe have the best interests of our nation. Failing which will mean a miserable and difficult five years for you and your family, which will affect putting food on the table and money in your pocket.
We only have one Kenya. We must put our nation and its people first.
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