NAIROBI'Z BLOGAZINE: KENYA DECIDES 2013;A KENYAN MATATU CONDUCTOR MESSAGE TO KENYANS

KENYA DECIDES 2013; WE NOW MOVE FORWARD

“T

hank you so much.

Today, close to a week gone, this country won the right to determine its own path and destiny. Today, though writing from the other side; having been a loyal supporter of CORD Movement, we move forward because of you.

This elections, you the true sons and daughters of the red, green, white and black, reminded us that while each of us will pursue our own individual dreams, we are a Kenyan family and we are unified as one nation and as one people.

Despite the road being hard and the journey long, we have picked ourselves up, dusted off and fought our way back. I take this time to salute every Kenyan who participated in this election, whether you voted for the very first time like me or waited in line for a very long time. I want to thank Kenyans for being peaceful, patriotic and calm awaiting the results- by the way, we have to change and fix all these.

Whether you pounded the pavement or picked up the phone, whether you held a presidential sign or volunteered; you made your voice heard and you made a difference.

I want to congratulate all the presidential candidates on a hard fought campaign. We may have battled fiercely, but it's only because we love this country deeply and we care so strongly about its future. And so, we choose to applaud the presidential candidates and their families for choosing to give back to Kenya through public service. That is the legacy that we can’t take way because it must burn deep within and we applaud it today.

To the best electoral team and volunteers in the history of our politics. The best. The best ever. Some of you were new this time around, and some of you have been at Chairman Isaac Hassan’s side since the very beginning. But all of you are family. No matter what you do or where you go from here, you will carry the memory of the history you made together and you will have the lifelong appreciation and respect of a grateful nation for conducting a credible electoral process. Thank you for your incredible work. But I will say for now, a break and a long hot bath is probably enough after this for some of you.

To some, I know that political campaigns can sometimes seem small, even silly. Some have even gone to say that politics is nothing more than a contest of egos or the domain of special interests. But elections do matter. That’s why we do this. It’s not small, it’s big. It’s important. Democracy in a nation of 40 million plus can be noisy and messy and complicated. We have our own opinions. Each of us has deeply held beliefs. And when we go through tough times, when we make big decisions as a country, it necessarily stirs passions, stirs up controversy.

That won't change in the next coming days, and it shouldn't. These arguments we have are a mark of our liberty. We can never forget that as we speak people in distant nations are risking their lives right now just for a chance to argue about the issues that matter, the chance to cast their ballots like we did today.

But despite all our differences, most of us share certain hopes for America's future. We want our kids to grow up in a country where they have access to the best education. A county that lives up to its promises and potential for good jobs, better health care and new businesses. A country that withholds dignity and freedom for every human being.

We believe in and an admirable Kenya, in a pace- setter country, in a compassionate Kenya, opens to the dreams of her youths, women and men alike. To the young boy on the north side of Nairobi who sees life beyond the nearest slums or street corner. To the furniture worker’s child in Mombasa who wants to become a doctor or a scientist, an engineer or an entrepreneur, a diplomat or even a president- that’s the future we hope for. That's the vision we share. That's where we need to go — forward. That's where we need to go.

The focus now turns on moving this great nation forward. Now along the way, we will disagree, sometimes fiercely, about how to get there.

Your work as Kenyans is not done. The role of citizen in our democracy does not end with your vote.

This country has more wealth than any nation, but that's not what makes us rich. We have one of the most powerful military in history, but that's not what makes us strong. Our university, our culture, our musicians, our heritage, our athletes are all the envy of the world, but that's not what keeps the world coming to our shores and watching us with envy.

What make us exceptional are the bonds that hold together the most diverse nation on earth. The belief that our destiny is shared; that this country only works when we accept certain obligations to one another and to future generations. The freedom which so many Americans have fought for and died for come with responsibilities as well as rights. And among those are what the spirits of our ancestors urge us on, and those are love and charity and duty and patriotism. That's what makes Kenya great.

To my preferred candidate, Mr. Raila “Jakom” Odinga-the enigmatic one and the CORD family, you have been a true testimony to our blood line and democracy. Our roar was long and loud; but that is because we love this country so much. If I was to say something to this big family; then it would probably be-“it was an honor to have fought at your side!”

For Kenya; I have always believed that hope is that stubborn thing inside us that insists, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us so long as we have the courage to keep reaching, to keep working, to keep fighting.

I believe we can build on the progress we've made and continue to fight for new jobs and new opportunity and new security for the middle class. I believe we can keep the promise of our founders. I believe we can seize this future together because we are not as divided as our politics suggests. We're not as cynical as the pundits believe. We are greater than the sum of our individual ambitions, and we remain more than a collection of red, black and green counties. We are and forever will be the United Counties of Kenya.

And together with your help and God's grace we will continue our journey forward and remind the world just why it is that we live in the greatest nation on Earth.

Thank you, Kenya. God bless you. God bless these united country.”

-additional insights from president Obama re-election speech ‘‘The Best is yet to come.’’

-To CORD supporters special dedication of Chronixx song-“we nuh give up”.