Congratulations to President-elect William Ruto. Your election as per the 2010 Constitution is another milestone of democracy in our country. I won’t dwell much on this for now as obviously I have a lot to write later on.
The economic conditions in our country have been adverse to many of our citizens for many years. I have written over and over that the increasing poverty levels, high rate of unemployment and high rate of unemployment is a big problem for any nation. A nation would be unsustainable in the long run if these conditions prevail for long.
Even during Kibaki’s regime I used to write about these conditions much as the country’s economy was recovering and growing modestly from the mess it was in when Kanu was kicked out of power.
I did then point out, and as I have consistently pointed over the years, that much as the government kept saying that majority of jobs were being created in the informal sector and that majority need to get into micro to small enterprises, there was a problem of the market and high rate of attrition of these businesses within the first five years.
Not many of these would survive for long due to market conditions. Sustainability has consistently been a problem for many micro and small businesses and even medium-sized ones have been forced to close down over time.
I have also pointed out regularly the demographic factors do indicate that unless the economy is able to grow in double digit, we won’t get the population dividend but more troubling times ahead. Therefore poverty and crime are bound to be a problem.
All these, plus corruption and tribalism, are bound to turn into a powder keg and can persist unless tamed in good time. It did become one and citizens are angry and want change. This plus rising cost of living led to a lot of citizen dissatisfaction with the government, more so during the Uhuru regime era.
President-elect William Ruto, being a shrewd politician, saw an opportunity, used it and he won. He became the symbol of unity for the struggles of the downtrodden and the economic suffering majority. His oratory skills and his ability to ride on the moment of the political chasm made him a hero.
The hustler mantra became a rallying call. He was able to disassociate himself with the problems of the government, especially when the handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition chief Raila Odinga happened. With so many crises, especially brought by the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war adding to the existing perennial economic challenges, it only needed some political spark by a politically ingenious person for the hustlers to feel they have found a ‘messiah.’
It happened that Ruto, who for long most likely had plans for the presidency, got the right pass to score.
There we are and Ruto is the fifth president of the Republic of Kenya. Now the hard work begins. The problems remain and they need urgent solutions. Solutions have to come rather quickly and with a lot of energy from the top. Ruto looks to have the right energy but here he has to combine it with all the intellect and with the right people from where he can get them.
The high levels of unemployment, high level of underemployment, poverty, and high costs of living combined with high levels of corruption breed a real powder keg. Five years to another general election is a very short time. The demands from all over the country are quite immense.
People need jobs, they need their businesses to thrive, they want crime contained, they want terrorism completely eradicated, they need better jobs that are sustainable and to make decent living, they need economic opportunities, they need a lot of infrastructure and other developments, etc. In a nutshell, his intray as president is already more than full.
One of his campaign promises was to set up a ministry for Diaspora. I hope it happens. The diaspora inflows far exceed any other exports and tourism in terms of bringing foreign exchange. What I have seen some counties like Uasin Gishu and Nandi busy doing getting people to school and get work needs more effort at the national level.
I wish the incoming President the best of luck, he needs it and great vision. He needs to outdo any president that Kenya has ever had. Our nation needs that without fail. I’m hoping Ruto will make me and other Kenyans proud. I’m usually a very suspicious person and I remain so. But I was born endowed with a gracious spirit, hence, my wish for him to be the best president Kenya has ever had.
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