As the country holds its breath waiting for the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report, which will be submitted to President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga, much credit will go to Garissa Senator Yusuf Haji.
A veteran politician, Haji has had a distinguished career in the civil service, where for over 20 years, he served as Provincial Commissioner during President Daniel Arap Moi's tenure.
At 78 years, the powerful Senator who has been in politics for 21 years after hanging his boots in the public administration, has seen it all. And even when Uhuru and Raila buried the hatchet after the divisive 2017 election, there was no better person to spearhead the handshake agenda through the BBI.
As the chairman of the task force of the team that was formed in 2017, the former Ijara Member of Parliament was supposed to use his nearly half a century of experience in the public service to deliver the report which is expected to have far-reaching consequences on the country's political landscape.
Due to his experience, the Garissa Senator commands respect. When he speaks, his colleagues listen. Yes, old is gold.
Whatever the BBI report, Haji has cemented his place in the history of Kenya as an efficient administrator and politician whose experience helped the country when it was needed most.