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The inauguration of Kenya’s fifth president, William Ruto, was as exciting as envisaged. Of course, there are those who are licking their wounds and still have gripe on the outcome of the August 9 presidential election. However, it is time to close ranks across the political divide. Life must go on now, irregardless (sic).

One of the hallmarks of the inauguration ceremony was the attendance by almost 20 heads of State and government. This was an endorsement by the African leaders that Kenya has come of age and should now take a leap of faith to the next level both nationally and regionally.

The President took the cue in his speech by committing himself to implementation of the East African Treaty, and the free movement of goods and people as contained in the nascent African Continental Free Trade Area.

President Ruto finds himself at the helm of a country that has been raring to take off, but stopped or derailed by forces that have an exaggerated sense of entitlement – and grand corruption, of course!

The presidents who gave speeches stressed regional cooperation. What they did not explicitly state is that they see Kenya, and by extension the new president, taking the mantle of leadership in the continent. Never mind that some must also have been sizing up Ruto to gauge his mettle. 

The leaders obviously admire the fact that Kenya’s democracy, though still flawed, continues to mature and is actually becoming a benchmark worldwide.

As President Yoweri Museveni ended his speech, “congratulations to Kenya”. But this should not make us haughty or rest on our laurels. We must continue to be vigilant and apply lessons learnt both from our past and the experiences of other countries.

If God chose our president for us, then he did it with specific objectives, similar to the roles he gave to the kings and queens he chose for his people in the Bible.

Going by his pronouncements during his inauguration speech, President Ruto could as well play the role of Moses who will deliver Kenyans particularly from economic bondage. Why not! He has the courage, energy and intellect. His time in office should go down in history as Kenya’s golden era.

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There is no doubt that President Ruto is a decent man. As we celebrate the ushering in of a new era, there are two, nay, three pitfalls that Ruto must guard against in his nascent  government.  As enshrined in our Constitution, Kenya must continue to be a haven for all religious faiths. There is risk of overzealousness by those who might equate Ruto’s Christian beliefs for a licence to undermine or ignore other faiths or religions.

As per the Kenyan tradition, we must continue embracing all beliefs that operate legally. Mathew 5:45 will suffice here: He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Secondly, the hustler-dynasty narrative that he sold during the campaigns now needs to be put in perspective, lest it breeds an unhealthy relationship between the country’s social classes. While every hustle matters, let us not criminalise or victimise genuine wealth and enterprise. The so-called hustler nation should not be a fool’s paradise that celebrates mediocrity, but rather where hard work and honesty is rewarded.

Third but not least, the President should save us from busybodies within his ranks who might now think it is time to settle personal or political scores, or both. It is okay to become excited when one gains power. But the abuse of power should not be part of the new administration’s governing lexicon. Let those who wield it at any particular time remember the maxim that power is transient. The lives of our retired presidents should be enough proof of this. 

— The writer is a PhD student in International Relations.