All sovereign power belongs to the people of Kenya

Elections are over and many are ecstatic either with anger or joy but stretching the celebration or mourning will be missing the point. The majority have spoken and though we might not like it, we have to live with it for the next 5yrs. The successes or failure of this government shall affect all of us, so instead of declaring how the new president is your man or that you won’t recognize him as president. Let’s put our thinking caps on and keep our eyes on the prize. Let’s not let anyone destroy our country on our watch. Let’s not just watch but instead get our hands dirty to do what needs to be done to get to where we’re going as a country. Here’s an article by Mtume…

The Preamble of the Kenyan constitution says volumes about the kind of people we as Kenyans are. It not only acknowledges God right at the very beginning, it underlines that we are one as Kenyans, our commitment to the environment, our recognition of human rights and lastly and certainly most importantly it is a dedication to ourselves “ …and give this Constitution to ourselves and to our future Generations”

Why do I emphasize this? On March 4^th Kenyans went out in the thousands to do exactly that. Give themselves the leaders they thought they deserve. It is another issue all together as to whether all persons voted for are really what the citizens want but that would be missing the point.

As the world watched and waited for the first signs of violence and the words civil war being muttered under their breath Kenyans came out in a spectacular show of tenacity, that unwavering spirit only a Kenyan is born with, cast their votes and went home.

We collectively held our breath each passing day as IEBC Chairman Ahmed Issack Hassan, through no fault of his own couldn’t, deliver a final tally. Then the day came and went. Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta. Putting aside the ICC for just a minute and the man´s known weakness for the bottle lets all take a moment and reflect on the fact that he is our President.

Thus Mr. President we have got our eyes on you. We read your manifesto. We read your promises. We shall not forget. We shall not squander the next 50 years of our citizenship on empty promises. Words are well and good, your eloquence although very refreshing in the hindsight of your predecessor will not fill my stomach.

We the youth, the people who literally put you in office will be handing you your report card very often. No mistake shall be left unnoticed, no lies shall be left uncovered and no inhumanity tolerated.

So this is a toast to ourselves, for exercising our right and a reminder to you Mr. President that we are starting from the beginning, Chapter One, Article One §1 (1) of our beloved Constitution “All sovereign power belongs to the people of Kenya”- lest you forget.

President Uhuru Kenyatta´s Inaugrial speech:

“To the great people of our beloved country of Kenya, as I stand here before you, I know that only slightly more than half of the 12.3 million citizens who voted, cast votes for me; nearly half – more than 6 million – voted for the other candidates.

To those who did not vote for me I say to you, sincerely, I respect your decision. I want you to know that I will work hard to earn your trust and support. And I pledge to do so not by word but by deed.

To the millions who voted for me, I say thank you from the bottom of my heart. You have high expectations of me. With your support and the support of all Kenyans, I will work hard every day and every hour of my term to meet and even your expectations.

During the campaigns, I travelled the length and breadth of our country – from Moyale to Malindi; from Lamu to Lodwar; from Migori to Mandera; from Homa Bay to Manda Bay, and many places in between.

Everywhere I went, I saw hope in the faces of Kenyans. I saw a desire for justice and equality, a desire and determination to live a secure, decent and dignified life.

I saw something else: a fervent desire, indeed a prayer, for our country to end division and discrimination by tribe; a desire to treat each other as equal Kenyans, and a desire to end the cancer of corruption.

We are one nation with one destiny. From the Ameru to the Yaku, we are all Kenyan communities regardless of origin or ancestry– equal before the law and before God.

No one community or group of communities – not even the Kikuyu and the Kalenjin – has the right to be the sole provider of Presidents! Every community can and has a right to lead this country. History and circumstance have created this moment for us. Let us seize it.

Fifty years ago, our country started with a vow to conquer three enemies: poverty, ignorance, and disease. Fifty years later, we still affirm that vow.

The names may appear different, and the list may have grown longer, but the enemies remain the same: corruption, poor leadership, ethnic discrimination, unemployment and insecurity.

Fifty years ago, our fathers and forefathers lit the torch of liberation, banished the darkness of colonial bondage and set our country on journey of self-actualisation.

Today, fifty years later, in this year of Jubilee, the torch has been handed over to a new generation. We, the offspring of the independence generation, accept the solemn duty of lighting a brighter path for today’s and tomorrow’s generations.

I believe in you the great people of Kenya. I believe in your resilience and determination. I believe in your energy and creativity. Through you,I see a brighter future for our country.

I see abundant and shared prosperity within our borders. I see a strong and confident Kenya held in high esteem among the community of nations.

I see a strong, vibrant yet peaceful and secure country. Let us then join hands to make this vision a reality. Join me in this noble journey. I am your servant. Do not hesitate to correct me when I stray.

To the international community I say to you, Kenyans value your friendship and partnership. We value your support. We assure you of our commitment to strengthen mutually respectful and beneficial relationships. We will abide by all international treaties to which we are signatories and commit to fulfil related obligations as guided by our constitution.

To those who wish us harm, or who by their actions seek to undermine our inalienable right as free human beings in an independent country, we have a simple message: Kenya will sacrifice all and everything in defence of its sovereignty.

To our regional neighbours, we give our assurance to you that Kenya will do its best to realise common goals within the framework of cooperation treaties that we have signed. We will continue to give our strong support to the goals and objectives of, among others, the East African Community, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, and the African Union.

Finally, fellow Kenyans, this is not a time to celebrate; it is a time to get to work. It is a time for all Kenyans wherever they are to rededicate themselves to nation-building.

Let us then, together, with one accord, in common bond united, build this our nation together, in our traditional spirit of Harambee! Thank you. May God Bless you and our country, Kenya.”

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