We have the choice to determine the type of country we want

It seems a long time ago now when world leaders were streaming into Kenya. Our airports were full of tourists, from your average Joe coming to see Simba, to the leader of the free world. Indeed from Barack Obama to the Pope, the last four years was a period of genuine international pride. Kenya was not only a glimmer of hope and progress in East Africa; we had become the beacon of light for an entire continent.

The recent debacle surrounding the elections, at least superficially, has cast a shadow on what was genuine progress. Kenya, however, has an opportunity to put that genie back in the bottle, and place Kenya back on that international pedestal. To do this though, is to ask what type of Kenya we want to be?

Choose optimism over pessimism

An optimistic Kenya which looks forward? Or a pessimistic Kenya walking blindly into a regressive past? I believe the only way is forward. First and foremost, let us unify around the celebration of democracy we just witnessed. We witnessed two sets of (relatively) peaceful elections. We witnessed the Supreme Court intervene and rule against an incumbent. We witnessed the incumbent accept the results. We witnessed huge turnout, incredible political participation, and a lengthy vociferous political campaign period.

While the critics like to focus on the glass as half empty, it is important to remind that the glass is half full as well. The remnants of post-election violence must end today, and post-election unity must reign.

Beacon of Africa

Let us remember how we became the beacon of Africa. The economic achievements of the last four years earned Kenya the title of Silicon Savannah.

For the first time ever, Kenya was rated as one of the world’s top business destinations by the World Bank. Entrepreneurs are quite literally springing up on every street corner. Kenya has the fastest internet on the continent, and greater penetration and internet speeds than global giants such as China by proportion.

It is this level of progress which encouraged the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to hold its tenth ministerial conference in Nairobi last year. Companies from Singapore to Seoul, South Africa to Silicon Valley have been locating their African headquarters in our capital. International standing is not therefore just about handshakes and photo-ops, it is about jobs, a thriving economy; food on our plates, and money in our pockets.

A lot to learn from Kenya

The rest of the continent looks to Kenya to learn. Earlier this year, United Nations’ (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres described Kenya as “a symbol of Africa’s progress”. He was not wrong. Now is not the time to put on the brakes, rather to accelerate forward. The economy is like cycling up a steep hill; stop moving and you roll straight back down.

We must keep climbing together.

Likewise, politically, Freedom House ranks Kenya as one of only two African states with total internet freedom. None of us – who view the glass half full –were surprised when Nairobi became the first cityoutside of Japan to host the TICAD conference on encouraging Asian investment in Africa.

When voices of congratulations came in for President Kenyatta immediately after the August 8 election, it reflected a deep and real appreciation of his efforts across the continent and beyond.

So while there are those who look to divide and incite, at this precarious time in our history we must unite.

Let’s be united in our pride that the people of Kenya had their voices heard; twice. Let’s be united in our pride that the Supreme Court – brave and strong – demonstrated its independence in the face of great public pressure.

Let us be united in our pride that an incumbent president humbly accepted a painful blow from the independent court system.

Let’s be united in our pride that the overwhelming majority of Kenyans chose peace and democracy over violence and demagoguery.

Only through unity can we get Kenya back on track. The world has been looking at Kenya for the past 6 months, and they have not seen the Silicon Savannah we all know and love. They have not seen the attractive tourist destination we are so rightly proud of.

And they have not seen the stable country of which we are all so blessed to be a part of. So at this critical juncture in our nation’s short history, we must ask ourselves the big question: What type of Kenya do we want to become?

We all know the answer to that question.

Mr Temba is a Communication consultant