Open letter to the president,

Jambo wherever you are and hope this finds you well. You know I didn’t write you this letter just to catch up so I’ll just get cut straight to the point. I know you might not get to read this letter amidst the millions of congratulatory messages pouring in but maybe my friend Goddy will mention it to his MP who’ll mention it to his senator Kipchumba Murkomen, who might bypass a few ranks and mention it to Hon Samoei Ruto who currently is in your favorite people list. I remember when we were young my mother used to give us sweets just so we could take the bitter drugs later. We cried until either we were called “good boy” or better yet given sweets to take off the bitter taste of antibacterial that back then we couldn’t understand just why we had to take in the first place.

Forgive my long analogy, I’m sure you must be wondering what it adds to this letter apart from the obvious bulk. Well wonder no more; I want to give you a bitter drug. I just want you to swallow it. So here’s the lozenge; congratulations sir, you ran an efficient campaign that moved this nation, okay, some corners of it. Nevertheless, you won this election and I believe congratulations are in order.

I was filled with pride when I heard your acceptance speech, it was truly of a statesman and if you meant the words you said and the spaces in between the ink then Kenyans have no reason to be afraid, the supposed impending sanctions notwithstanding.

If the IEBC disputed figures are anything to go by, you garnered 6.1 M votes which translates to slightly just above the 50% mark threshold required by the constitution. What of the other 50% that didn’t vote for you, will you be there president too? No, don’t answer me .I know you’ll just say something politically correct. So just think about it.

Sometimes leadership is not what the constitution entails. Mandate is not got by ‘winning’ an election. Mandate is not even got by an overwhelming majority in an election. It’s not got by attaining the required 25% in half of the counties. That alone ensures you a stint in State House; it doesn’t earn you the awe and admiration of your citizens.

Reaching out to the losers, the 5.3 million Kenyans who thought the nation could do better in the choice of the next CEO of East Africa’s largest economy. That’s why am greatly impressed by the tone of your acceptance speech. Whereas not enshrined in the constitution, humility and grace are far more important than the constitutional thresholds of our presidential requirement. Qualities that you not only have but am impressed you have in abundance. Maybe you aren’t that bad.

By now from my tone I know you are quickly tempted to dismiss me as a CORD sympathizer, an allegation I won’t even attempt to deny. Why disguise my political affiliation? Am among the 5.3 M who loudly made their voice heard by voting for Raila Amolo Odinga. We did so because we believed he was best suited to fulfill our interests. Am I sad we lost? Yes. Am I bitter, no, am writing to you with a clear conscience because just like the 6.1 M who did their constitutional duty and overwhelmingly voted for you, you will be my president too. I need to ,together with my fellow 5.3 M , feel included, not vindicated, celebrated not tolerated, important not accommodated. If you do that you’ll earn my vote. Not in the next election or forward but today. Sio ati mlio wa chura will prevent you from drinking water anyway.

The CORD hierarchy has decided to challenge your election in court. It’s their right, bestowed by the same constitution that you’ll soon pledge to honor and defend. Please don’t see them as villains. Calm your ,supporters ask them to bestow basic human dignity to ‘yule mtu wa vitendawili’ as he has been christened by your party rank and file. That gesture of minding your own business and now ours by extension will earn you trust and support. Something which you don’t have to worry about if your basic desire is just to meet the minimal constitutional requirements to be president. I think you are greater than that. Am hoping you are greater than that.

The campaign period should effectively behind us. There’s of course the basic human inclination to gloat. Say I told you so or even fail to repress the urge to take a quip at the fallen political giants. Please don’t, tell your sycophants that grace in jubilation is a debt you owe to this great nation just so that we can preserve this fragile peace that we enjoy. This I know you’ll do because deep down I believe you have this nation at heart.

Forgive me for writing long, it’s just that I don’t know the next time I will write to you.

Adios President-elect Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta, it still tastes weird in the mouth, not bad, just strange but I know well get there.

Am prepared to make the effort, please make it with me.

May God bless you

May God bless Kenya

Yours faithfully

Varaq Aseda

Kenyan Patriot