On 4th March 2013, approximately 12 million of the registered 14 million voters woke up and went to

exercise their constitutional right – voting. They were going to vote in their 4th president of the blessed

republic. There were 8 presidential aspirants, 7 male, 1 female. Just like in any presidential election, only

one person emerges winner while the others earn their respective position in line with the votes

gathers. The talk in town and opinion polls couldn’t call a winner but there was a consensus, this was a

‘2 horse’ race as they called it and the others were just donkeys.

The 4th president had some huge shoes to fill in and one hell of a legacy to compete with. The outgoing

president H.E Mwai Kibaki gave Kenyans a new constitution after several failed attempts by his and

other governments. The constitution was an embodiment of our (Kenyans) hope, aspirations, ideals and

values for a peaceful and more prosperous country. He took power when the economy was 0.6% and is

now leaving when it is at 7.1%. The economy was clearly top on his priority list. His government played a

huge role in the development of ICT, increased tax revenues, boosted the agricultural sector, improved

infrastructure, upgraded slums, opened up the real estate market, made basic financial services

available and improved the general livelihood of your average citizen by introducing free primary school

education, improving the quality of education hence increasing the primary to secondary school

transition from 42% to 70% and also improved healthcare across the country. He was a man of few

word, when everyone spoke he was silent but when he spoke, he would leave you with a smile on your

face, maybe it was the jokes he cracked or the promise you saw closest to your heart.

On 16th March 2013, the verdict was out. A majority of Kenyans chose Uhuru Kenyatta and his running

mate William Ruto to run the country for the next 5 years. Second was Raila Odinga who was

approxiamely 800,000 votes less than that of Uhuru. Mr Uhuru won with 4000 votes to avoid a run off.

Mr Raila, has since gone to court to challenge the results and if the 6 man bench finds his argument

valid, Kenyans will go back to the polls and the tax payer will have a bill of 5 billion Kenya shillings to

contend with. People voted not based on the popular tribal lines, after what happened in 2007. Kenyans

voted not based on which presidential candidate is from their tribe but who would bring the much

desired change in their lives. Uhuru Kenyatta was the presidential candidate of the Jubilee coalition, a

coalition which was made up of 4 parties who promised if given the chance, they will transform Kenyan

and secure Kenya’s prosperity. Despite the petition, President elect Mr Uhuru Kenyatta and team have

hit the ground running putting into place structures which will make most if not all of their promises a

reality.

Working around their 3 pillars thus, unity, economy and openness, Kenyans were promised, a strong

united leadership, poverty, insecurity and inequality would be addressed. Kenya will be taken to a self

sustainable economy,the lives of the ordinary Kenyan will be improved by not only empowering them

but making essentials such as food, healthcare, education, water available and accessible, create wealth,

development if cogent foreign relations. At the end of it all we should see gender equality especially in

public office, the minority and under represented groups well presented. Young effective leadership

comprising of the able youth and the disabled, better working conditions for all the public servants such

as the police and modernization of security forces are among the President elect’s agenda.

The president elect and his running mate are currently facing charges at the Hague for crimes against

humanity in regards to the 2007 post election violence. The two say they are innocent and that their

being in power will not jeopardize the case or any foreign relations Kenya has with other countries. His

victory got a reception of mixed reactions with many foreign countries congratulating Kenyans for

coming out in large numbers and voting peacefully. Maybe they await the ruling of the court. Kenya also

is at war with Al shabab. We have had a series of attacks both on and out of Kenya’s soil. The Uhuru

government has that and many other things on their tray waiting for them to attend to.

In my opinion, the pending cases should not affect what the Uhuru government is looking to accomplish,

especially if they are determined. We have realized that we, as a people are capable of making a

difference, and if the government does it’s part in addressing the issues in their plate, the Kenyan

people will do their part, in working with them to make Kenya a powerful economy. We have relatively

strong structures and with the road paved by the outgoing president, the coming 5 years should see

Kenya develop in leaps and bounds.