President William Ruto was sworn in at Kasarani stadium yesterday.
It was a remarkable victory against all odds. He was opposed by many powerful forces. It was amazing that he remained in the running, let alone that he won.
Nevertheless it was a close race – he only just defeated Raila Odinga by 50.4 percent to 48.9 percent. Kenya is now a divided country, split almost evenly between those who supported him and those who opposed him.
Ruto has inherited a very difficult economic situation with high debt, unaffordable subsidies and soaring inflation yet with very high expectations from the public. His room for manoeuvre is limited.
But Ruto cannot use Kenya's limited resources to help just one section of the population. He has to be president for all Kenyans, not just those who voted for him.
Ruto has made all the right noises so far, about having an effective opposition, accountable government, and economic policies to help the impoverished and not just the elite.
He now has to keep those promises and be a great president for all Kenyans over the next five years. It is time for President Ruto to prove all the doubters wrong.
Quote of the day: "Consider your origins: you were not made to live as brutes, but to follow virtue and knowledge."
Dante Alighieri
The Italian writer died on September 14, 1321
