Two years ago, I did join and stated that I would go the full hog with William Ruto 2022.
This was subsequent to a great deal of internal reflection, wide consultations, plus extensive scanning and analysis of emerging issues in the political environment. Many argued I was on the path to self-destruction by going against the grain in total disregard to conventional thinking and practice.
I was, however, convinced that it was the most prudent and feasible decision to make, if not logical step to take. Today, my position remains unchanged.
At that point in time, the argument I advanced was that in my well-considered opinion, the real challenges that Kenya faces are high levels of unemployment, high cost of living, blatant corruption, spiraling debt at all levels, inequitable distribution of resources and loss of purchasing power of the consumer.
A worrying trend was, however, emerging: That the democratic space Kenya had witnessed over the past two decades was drastically diminishing as a consequence of impunity and wanton disregard to the Constitution.
Regrettably, a section of the political class appeared uninterested in addressing the real challenges afflicting the common citizen. Instead, they opted for the pre-occupation with egocentric pursuit of personal wealth and pre-mature agitation for change of the Constitution to ensure political preservation, perpetuate themselves in power and facilitate personal aggrandizement.
If you ask me, 90 per cent of Kenyans are not even adequately sensitised on the 2010 Constitution, and no candid evaluation of its implementation status has been undertaken to determine the milestones realised, challenges faced, implementation gaps, lessons learnt and emerging issues that could then objectively inform the rationale for constitutional changes, if any.
I, therefore, wondered the justification behind the urgency in unilaterally rushing to the radical conclusion that Kenya needed a constitutional change that is not informed by a technically feasible position.
My honest opinion was that our problem really was not a bad constitution but a leadership deficit, lack of political goodwill, inadequate enforcement of the constitutional dispensation, and capture of the state by a few individuals in total disregard to the interests of the Kenyan majority.
Equally, there appeared to be a worrying scheme by select and privileged families to unilaterally decide and casually rotate the leadership of this country among themselves in total disregard to the will and wishes of 50 million Kenyans.
Astonishingly, there were concerted efforts by the same clique of people to put together ethnic conglomerations as an avenue of attaining political power as opposed to the much desirable issue-based politics within the national political fabric.
As we speak today, the aforementioned factors remain equal and are largely held constant. I’m still vehemently opposed to and do not subscribe to the school of thought that two or three families should selfishly scheme to rotate the leadership of this country among themselves as a means of perpetuating themselves in power and facilitating their egocentric economic interests. That, to me, would not only be a travesty of justice but also a tragedy of epochal dimensions.
My conviction is that to save Kenya from the current economic morass and political quagmire, Kenyans need to collectively forge unity of purpose across the country.
They need to adopt issue-based politics devoid of personality cults, vendetta and vindictiveness; impartially fight corruption; resist impunity; discard the retrogressive culture of negative politics built around ethnic enclaves and tribal chiefs; and chart a new political order. An arrangement aimed at bringing about inclusivity and sanity within our national political fabric and regain their country from the jaws of the forces of state capture.
Kenyans, therefore, yearn for a transformational; decisive; progressive; responsive; all-inclusive; and participatory leadership anchored in people-centric values, social justice, recognition of human rights, conformity to the rule of law and responsiveness to the real challenges facing the common mwananchi. Informed by the lessons learnt from the recent presidential election, it cannot be gainsaid that we are on the right trajectory.
There is ample empirical evidence from which to draw the conclusion that a clear agenda and transformational leadership traits informed Kenyans’ deliberate and conscious decision to vote William Ruto as their President. Kenyans needed real change and in their wisdom, Ruto is the agent of that change.
Through this singular and decisive action, all indicators are in the affirmative that Kenyans have buried primitive and retrogressive ethnic-inclined politics freed themselves from the yoke and shackles of political dynasties; challenged state capture and are now on the verge of economic emancipation.
With Ruto now President-elect, Kenyans can visualize in the horizon optimal levels of agricultural transformation, low-cost housing, universal healthcare, social protection ably augmented by commensurate levels of financing for trade and entrepreneurship; a digital superhighway and infrastructure as enablers.
I can authoritatively state without fear of contradiction that the bottom-up economic model on which Ruto’s agenda is anchored will be the game changer towards attaining equitable distribution of national wealth; rise in per capita income and standards of living of the Kenyan people; plus corresponding levels of savings and investment to spur economic growth and development.
These are the facts of the case. Perhaps it is too good to be true but it’s realistic and attainable. My proposition has come to pass, and I’m at peace with myself.
Eliud Owalo is an economist, management consultant and strategy expert
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