Voters get their details checked before casting their votes on Tuesday. [Photo/ The Star]
The long period of political campaigns is finally over, and it is now time for Kenyans to focus on building the country. Last week’s polls, which allowed Kenyans to choose more than 1,800 elected officials to represent them at various levels, should be the last time this year that we dwell on politics, which do not put food on the table of ordinary Kenyans on a day-to-day basis.
Continuing to talk too much about the recently-concluded elections before at least four years are over is not a very wise thing to do when you want to advance. Time for politics is over. Let's now focus on more meaningful things. As we allow the newly elected leaders to deliver on their pre-election pledges, let us take a moment to fix relationships with our friends, neighbors, and acquaintances who may have voted the other way. We need each other, far more than we rely on the politicians. Just like other great countries, such as the United States, we should use our diversity as an asset to unify the country to become stronger. We all have different talents that can be harnessed to realize our full potential. As Kenyans, we should refuse to be dragged into politics between now and 2020 by politicians who are keen to use us for their selfish gains. That is the only way we can mature as a country. This is why I salute the millions of Kenyans who ignored Raila Odinga's call to boycott work on Monday.