Albert Amenya: Given time; Ruto will make Kenya great again

Raila Odinga and Uhuru Kenyatta never believed that their time was up. In spite of warnings, they continued their wantonness in government until the people thundered “NO” on August 9. On that day, the presidential candidate of United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Dr. William Samoei Ruto, swept the polls in an unprecedented manner. While Azimio may feign surprise over the big loss, Kenyans who voted overwhelmingly for the UDA and Dr. Ruto did so intentionally. They are no fools after all. The electorate unequivocally rejected them at the polls as a sure payback for their deceit and crass ineptitude in government in the last 10 years.

Sadly, the behemoth had in their surfeit of power, bellicosely proclaimed that they would rule the country for the next 20 years. When the election was due on August, they sensed defeat. They rolled out millions in tanks ostensibly to confuse and buy voters. Nonetheless, the billions they threw around the country could not erase their non-performance and refusal to use the nation’s wealth for the benefit of the people since 2013. The people simply voted and booted them out. 

On that day, Kenyans rose in unison and amply demonstrated that they are not unaware of the fact that the inefficiency and corruption that characterized the Handshake administration fueled poverty and insecurity that has been the bane of the nation. The previous regime never cared about Kenyans, rather they took them for granted. All efforts to get them back on the smooth track of good governance, having perilously derailed, fell on deaf ears. So, how are the mighty fallen?

For the hustlers in Kenya, August 9 represents a glorious chapter in the annals of their struggle to make life more abundant for themselves. For Dr. Ruto, it is sweet victory. His disappointments were many but this victory surely assuaged all that. He has shown that with determination, hard work and prayers, one can attain the impossible. On August 9, the Chief chicken seller from Sugoi equally demonstrated that preparation meeting opportunity is the true definition of luck and not luck conferred by accident of a nomenclature. He eliminated chance from the act of political re-engineering. In the place of luck and chance he substituted resilience, doggedness, vision, proper strategy and action. As they say: “The harder the fight, the sweeter the victory.” His victory signposted the triumph of the people over ineptitude, cluelessness, bad governance, impunity and brazen corruption by those elected to serve.

The broom revolution has redefined this nation for good. Dr. Ruto with his pedigree of integrity, courage and vision cannot but take this nation to greater heights and make Kenyan citizens respected and admired once again in the comity of nations. Bill has left no one in doubt that he is ready to tackle the myriads of problems besetting this country which the previous regime glossed over for 10 years.

As William and the UDA prepare to assume leadership following a myriad of interruptions by opposition leader Raila Odinga, the challenge of insurgency, corruption, joblessness, high cost of fuel, opacity in various sectors, kidnapping and armed robbery must be vigorously tackled. Nothing must be left to chance. The stars in the UDA must be appropriately deployed to begin the hard work of restoring the dignity of our country. Square pegs must of necessity find accommodation in square holes. Everything must be done with decorum, finesse, justice, equity and fairness.

Now that Ruto has unveiled Cabinet Secretaries and other heads of key departments and agencies of government, he must hit the ground running so as to revamp and grow the nation’s fortunes. Any time wasted in this exercise will amount to a minus which the broom revolution can ill afford. Dr. William Ruto is known for his masterstroke strategies and not sloppiness. He must not only continue in his sterling tradition of excellence but also improve on it. Whether President Ruto likes it or not, the electorate is waiting to see the change in stock for them in the UDA administration. He cannot afford to disappoint them.

The Hustler nation being a product of mass support from the Mama Mbogas, Watu ya Kinyozi and the Bodaboda, must of necessity operate a policy of love towards all and malice towards none. This is why I applaud Ruto’s assurance in his acceptance speech that “I shall work for those who voted for me as well as those who voted against me and even for those who did not vote at all.”

In the same vein, Ruto’s administration must in no way be a government of vendetta. What God did through the people on August 9 cannot be equaled or surpassed by the retributive acts of men. The new dawn must be a new dawn indeed – guided by the rule of law. The new government must be a truly national government in outlook and functionality. The structural imbalance inhibiting the development of our nation must be put right. Fiscal capitalism must be enthroned. Siting of new projects and completion of abandoned ones must not be dictated by the pattern of voting on August 9. Whole nation must now be made to taste the rich magnanimity of the UDA administration. 

Follow us @NairobiReviewKE for more stories.

If you have a story you'd like us to share kindly DM us directly @NairobiReviewKE on twitter or send us an email on info@nairobireview.africa.