As Kenyans and as people living and working in Kenya, we want to express our pride and excitement generated by President Ruto’s statement at the United Nations on September 21.
We want to cheer and support the efforts he calls on the international community to join him in implementing the climate change agenda.
Briefly, we say:
To “Building Back Better, From the Bottom” so that we tap the ingenuity, optimism, resilience, and energy of the working majority and bring them into the economic mainstream - YES.
To investing in Agriculture – not only fertilisers, but our soils and our indigenous foods - YES.
To strengthening Ocean and Blue economy globally so that we protect marine ecosystems, support sustainable fishing, and share ocean-based climate solutions with developing countries - YES.
To more financing for climate work, for climate justice – YES.
To debt relief – YES.
To greater pan-Africanism to make multilateralism work for the people – YES.
To reform of the UN Security Council to make it more representative – YES.
To the World Health Organization setting up an international instrument to ensure global solidarity and equity – YES.
To a peaceful, stable, prosperous world for all – YES.
To imagination and innovation – YES.
To the universal values of equality, inclusion, justice, solidarity, and collective action – YES.
To a greener, safer, healthier, more abundant Earth – YES.
And, as for hustling and hustlers, we agree that we support the people who are working to support themselves and their families everywhere in the world, those doing the best they can, tirelessly expending their life force to stay alive and support those they love.
We want to be clear that what many hear in the word ‘hustler’, someone who will do whatever it takes to get money, we do not say Yes to that kind of hustling. Let us say out loud what our principles are and live by those principles.
An ‘innocent’ hustler pursues the good hustle, the hustle of clean effort, of honesty, of transparency, of imagination, of equality, of mutual support, of listening to each other, of working together.
Let us not hide prejudice or impunity behind our power, our traditions, or our faith, but rather open the doors of fairness and apply the rigour of our principles to everyone equally, no exceptions. Let us be kind and wise. Let us be agents for change that matches the times we are living in-- changes that also assure a better future for our grandchildren and their grandchildren. Let our patriotism be global.
We whole-heartedly agree that it is time to “reflect the voice of the farmers, represent the hopes of villagers, champion the aspirations of pastoralists, defend the rights of fisherfolk, express the dreams of traders, respect the wishes of workers and, indeed, protect the welfare of all peoples of the Global South,” for women and men, youth and children, here and everywhere else.
We beseech you to also acknowledge the role of the arts and artists, of freedom of expression, of a rigorous press, of not fearing difference of opinion, but welcoming it, embracing it. For, this rich diversity strengthens our hope for Kenya and for what we have to contribute to the world. It fuels our imagination and our innovation and our solidarity.
Mr President, many of us are watching with trepidation in these early weeks of your administration, trying to see what way the winds will actually blow once you secure your power and establish your team.
We hope and we pray that this speech to the United Nations does indeed represent your priorities, your courage, and your open-heartedness as you navigate these tumultuous waters.
We hope that whatever comes of the opposition, those whose most important job is to hold you accountable to the Constitution and to your constituency, is also healthy and principled, joining and creating teams for change that best represent all of our dreams.
Public health advocate based in Nairobi
