Dear reader,
It’s a new month and with a new beginning.
Things are looking up for Kenya and this is the reason why. It’s exactly one year since President Ruto was elected into office on August 9 last year but declared on August 15.
The Supreme Court proceedings were concluded on Friday, September 2, and a unanimous decision was made on Monday, September 5 same year that he had been validly elected as President.
I still vividly remember how it was at the residence of the Deputy President in Karen. The Joy was palpable. The improbable dream had happened.
I believe in divine determinism since how can it be that President Ruto’s win was confirmed on September 5 at the age of 55 years, as the fifth president? Things don’t just happen.
It’s not also a coincidence that on September 5, 2023, the whole globe came calling.
More than 20 heads of state and 40 governments were represented during his inauguration on September 13, 2022.
Within one year, another 35 presidents and heads of government have visited our great country; an average of three per month.
During the 77th United Nations General Assembly meeting held in September last year, he was the star of the moment with world leaders failing to meet him.
As one person aptly put it, Presidents were angling to even take photos with him.
President Ruto has within a very short time been able to distinguish himself as a rising African and therefore global voice on pertinent matters.
Interestingly, the Africa Climate Summit ACS23 happened on September 5, 2023, bringing 13 heads of state and government, more than 500 MPs from across Africa and more than 16,000 delegates.
Hotel business was booming this week and as one hotelier told me, if we can get at least three of such meetings monthly, Kenya would be swimming in money.
An economy that looked bleak only a few months ago is now picking up a year down the line.
For a Treasury that is debt-ridden, the fact the both NGCDF and monies to counties have been released, borrowing of about half a trillion stopped and about Sh300 billion will be netted from the new Finance Act, demonstrates great leadership on the part of the President.
For those of us who have worked with him, we are not surprised to see global leaders confirm was we knew all along. The fact that he has attracted so much admiration is telling. It’s a manifestation of the grace that he carries.
In fact, John Kerry, former US presidential candidate, Secretary of State and current Special Envoy on climate aptly summed it up when he said:
“I want you to know that as I listened, I could feel this room. Something is happening that is different. Mr President, I will say to you, your leadership is palpable, you can feel it.”
When President Ruto addressed young people in Paris, France, his electrifying speech won global accolades.
He is sober, self-assured, articulate, timekeeper and forthright, truly endearing himself to many people.
On the African agenda, he has boldly proposed that economies be de-dollarised.
This is hurting many economies and Africans should be able to trade with their own currencies to ease trade amongst themselves.
This vibe has really resonated with many African leaders and it was the focus of discussion at the recent BRICs summit in South Africa.
The second key issue is climate financing whereby he has been able to make a case for a global green bank.
He has elucidated that Africa isn’t looking for favours but fairness and that the national agenda overrides international commitment.
That the rigged international financial system is not favouring Africa. He has thus made a case for the bank to be owned based on contributions by member states.
The other issue that has catapulted him to the global scene is the questioning of the credit ratings based on the debt-to-GDP ratio.
In his observation, African countries are being asked to pay a higher interest rate than other countries that have a much higher debt.
This in his opinion makes the countries pay much more for less; call it systemic racism.
Thus, the legitimacy that President Ruto enjoys stems from the fact that he has never lost any election and that he was validly elected into office against all odds.
We were reflecting recently on how he kept assuring us that “ati kura zangu ziibiwe?” with his characteristic remark ‘relax’. He exudes confidence and provides leadership even during very murky times, as he is able to keep his cool.
People are always yearning for a leader who can transcend boundaries, be they tribal, regional, national or racial, to resonate with them on what matters most. He reminds of me Barack Obama in many ways.
Indeed through his leadership, Africa has a real voice to leverage on its 60 per cent reserve of all renewable energy globally and just like Mpesa, leapfrog itself to a prosperous future.
Ruto is able to inspire many people to believe in themselves no matter their background, the message of the HustlerNation’s narrative.
Africa will be changed by a thousand changes in those small places that look insignificant, and by ordinary people who may never be celebrated.
The only recognition will be the sparkles dotting all over the continent that will light up in unison, in a moment of ubiquitous transformation.
