Kenyan-born Australian Senator Lucy Gichuhi.[Photo/esb.com]Kenyan-born Australian Senator Lucy Gichuhi has called for patience among Kenyans and focus on the gains made under the new Constitution.
She urged Kenyans to stop comparing Kenya with developed democracies, saying the country has made “tremendous improvements”.
Gichuhi, who last year became the first senator of African descent in Australia, said Kenya is headed in the right direction, hence the need for patience by citizens. “We must go step by step.
We have made tremendous improvements. The constitution will grow and morph into something good,” she said. Gichuhi noted that Kenyans have a right to complain about governance-related issues, but they should compare the countries with nations such as Australia which is a mature democracy.
“It is good to seek to emulate evolved democracies such as Australia which is 200 years old, but there must be an acknowledgment that evolution takes time,” she said.
“I know people here hardly note when anything positive is taking shape in Kenya’s democratic space. But I want to say for sure that great things have happened. Kenya’s new constitution is seven years old and Kenya is in its teething stage. Kenyans should be patient.”
Gichuhi made remarks yesterday while addressing the media when she paid a courtesy call to Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga.
The senator, who is in the country for a month, promised to use her position to push for improved bilateral relations between Kenya and Australia. Gichuhi hails from Hiriga, Mathira constituency. She relocated to Australia 20 years ago.