The unity agreement between President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga could not have happened at a better time. It is what the country badly needed to overcome many challenges that have held us back from making great strides towards prosperity.
Before independence, all Kenyans were united in fighting the colonisers, but after the Britons left, the country started to be somehow divided, arising from differences on the best approaches to solve people's problems. The fathers of President Kenyatta and Raila, who were head of state and vice president respectively, were at the centre of all this.
It is such a relief to have their sons agree to put aside their deep political differences for the sake of the country. It is selfless. No other person in the country commands such a following like the two.
The unity deal will be pivotal in rallying together all political leaders from across the political divide to work together to achieve President Kenyatta's Big Four agenda. Those NASA governors who had earlier vowed to oppose the projects will now be on board, ending any resistance to the prosperity agenda.
The converging of the Jubilee and NASA bosses will mark a symbolic end to the deep ethnic divisions that have affected the country over the years. Kenyans from all tribes have no reason for not liking each other anymore. The 5th generation, who are toddlers now, will be the first Kenyans to grow without having ethnic hatred since independence.
Part of the reason why corruption has grown to become an existential threat to the country is that the country's key leaders have never worked together to slay the beast, which takes away about a third of the country's annual income. With a united top leadership, corrupt individuals will have no one to defend them.
Another issue that has contributed to lack of national cohesion and ethos is the lack of or perceived absence of an inclusive government. The coming together of President Kenyatta and Raila will make all Kenyans feel like their they are in government. There has never been such a time in the history of the country.
For many decades now, elections have been a nightmare for millions of Kenyans. It has been a time when the economy comes to a standstill and the lives of millions are put at risk. The two leaders have said NO to this. Elections will never again be a time to divide the country and instil fear in people.
Devolution was meant to ensure all regions in the country develop equitably. But the deep divisions, arising from political differences, have made this stall. Uhuru and Raila have promised to bring all counties together to work in a mutual way.
On safety and security, the unity deal will see the two leaders confront challenges, such as terror threats, from a united front. Terrorists will no longer try to divide the country based on our political differences.
There is a lot that President Kenyatta and ODM boss Raila will accomplish together. Kenyans will never be the same again.