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President William Ruto’s tour of the Nyanza region last week was a clear demonstration of the intricate link between development and constitutionalism in Kenya’s political dispensation.

Above all the visit showed that Kenyans have reached a level of political maturity that should serve as an exemplary lesson to other African countries struggling with the elusive concept of democracy.

Ruto’s sojourn in Nyanza came against the backdrop of last year’s contentious 9 August presidential election in which voters in the region voted overwhelmingly against him in favour of the regional kingpin Raila Odinga.

That was not enough for Raila to secure the coveted seat as Ruto narrowly edged him out, setting the stage for an epic battle in the Supreme Court that dismissed the Azimio leader’s petition.

However, the disputed election appeared to be water under the bridge as Nyanza leaders, led by Raila’s closest confidant Siaya Governor James Orengo and his brother Oburu Oginga warmly welcomed Ruto.

It was a bold admission by the Raila brigade that politics is a permanent political game and elections seasonal matches every five years and they may live to fight another one. Ruto had outplayed the Azimio team and the VAR had ratified the Kenya Kwanza team’s penalty.

The Nyanza presidential visit affirmed Raila’s political pragmatism in the wake of the electoral debacle to chart a positive spin for disappointed followers anchored on the democratic principles he has championed throughout his long political career.

Indeed, though Azimio lost the presidential contest, they won big in retaining the fruits of devolution firmly entrenched in the Constitution. Raila has been credited as the strongest advocate of devolution bequeathed on all Kenyans in the 47 counties regardless of political affiliation. With the election now history, Ruto’s mandate must focus on enhancing nationalism and addressing pressing issues facing Kenyans today – development amid an extremely difficult environment that has left millions languishing in poverty and economic hardships.

That will require astute leadership to serve all Kenyans devoid of reference to the past election since the Head of State’s erstwhile rivals has accepted his stature as a symbol of national unity. Ruto assured his Nyanza hosts that he will serve Kenyans equally and ensure development uniformly. It is a welcome commitment that will reassure people in regions such as Nyanza that have suffered political marginalisation under past political regimes. It is also a decisive indication that Ruto plans to build inclusion into the framework of his administration’s programmes.

At the end of the day, political differences only exist at personal levels. Ruto and Raila have worked closely together in the past, together with virtually all the political figures in the two main formations in the country.

During his Nyanza visit, he was accompanied by all the top leaders in his Kenya Kwanza government, including Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi who aptly summed up the political mood in the country:

Let us leave talk on the past election and concentrate on development and the consolidation of national unity. Kenyans are going through monumental economic hardships that require urgent attention and resolution.

National leaders engaging in political rhetoric promoting regional and ethnic interests based on considerations of how people voted in the last presidential election should be told in no uncertain terms that Kenyans have had enough of such divisive talk.

It is now time to engage in constructive dialogue to strengthen our Constitution which has withstood the test of time and built the foundations of our democracy.

— The writer comments on political and constitutional affairs