The election of Deputy President Dr William Samoei Ruto as the President-Elect as per the Constitution of Kenya is another milestone of democracy as exercised by the citizens.

Many factors have always favoured Ruto and one has been  his significant positioning close to power over the years, his oratory and networking skills and being a master schemer in politics. If you add this to the ethnic inclination and demands of Kenya’s politics and positions he has occupied and financial resources he commands, he was bound to be a big factor in Kenya’s politics.

Away from that, the economic conditions in our country have been adverse to many citizens for many years. High poverty levels, high unemployment rates are big problems for any nation. A nation’s wellbeing would be unsustainable in the long run if these conditions prevail for long.

During Mwai Kibaki’s administration, there was a problem with these conditions much as the country’s economy was recovering and growing modestly from the mess it was in around early 2002.

Much as the government kept saying jobs were being created in the informal sector and that majority needed to get into micro to small enterprises, there was a problem of the market and high rate of attrition of these businesses within the first five years. Not many of these would survive for long due to market conditions.

Sustainability has consistently been a problem for many micro and small businesses and even some medium-sized ones have had to close down over time.

Demographics indicate that unless the economy is able to grow in double digits, we won’t earn the population dividend but instead endure more troubling times ahead. Therefore poverty and crime is bound to a problem in the country.

All the above including corruption and tribalism are bound to yield into a powder keg and can only persist unless tamed. This, plus rising cost of living, lead to citizen dissatisfaction with the government.

Ruto being a shrewd politician saw the opportunity, used it and won. The ‘hustler nation’ mantra became a rallying call. He was able to disassociate himself with the problems of the government he served, especially when the ‘Handshake’ between President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga took place.

With so many crisis, especially brought by the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war adding to the existing perennial economic challenges, it only needed some political spark for ‘hustlers’ to feel they had found a ‘messiah.’

Now, Ruto is the fifth president of Kenya, but the hard work begins. The problems remains and they need urgent solutions. Solutions have to come quickly and with a lot of energy from the top.

Ruto looks to have the right energy but he has to combine it with all the intellect and the right people from where he can get them. The high levels of unemployment, poverty, high costs of living and corruption breed a real challenge.

 Five years to another General Election is a short time. The demands from across the country made for all the communities and regions are quite immense.

People need jobs, they need their businesses to thrive, they want crime contained, they want terrorism eradicated, they need better jobs which are sustainable and can support decent living standards, they need economic opportunities, they need a lot of infrastructure and other development projects. In a nutshell, the President -elect’s  in-tray as is full.

One of his campaign promises was to set up a ministry for Diaspora. I hope it happens. Diaspora inflows far exceed any other exports and tourism in terms of bringing foreign exchange. What counties like Uasin Gishu and Nandi have been doing, by getting people to study and work abroad needs to be replicated at a national level.

I wish the incoming President best of luck, plus a great vision. Our nation needs that.

 The Writer is a Political, Economic and Social Analyst and Commentator