September 13th 2022 will remain to be a day of reckoning and one to remember, as the day when another page in the book of Kenya’s history flipped open. This was the day when Hon. Dr. William Samoei Ruto took the mantle of power as the 5th President and Chief Commander of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kenya.
16 African Heads of State i.e. President Hon. Salva Kiir of the Republic of South Sudan and Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu graced the occasion that was held in pomp and colour at the Kasarani Stadium, Nairobi County.
At 1pm EAT, Hon. Dr. William Samoei Ruto, took the path of the top office led by Chief Justice Martha Koome. His deputy in office Hon. Rigathi Gachagua equally took his oath of second in command, after the President, being led by the Chief Registrar. This celebration was followed by the signing of the books of office and handing over of instruments of power, all of which are provisions of the Kenyan Constitution.
The final rite of law and of the Constitution was the handing of the Kenyan constitution to the current President H.E Hon. Dr. William Samoei Ruto, by the former President Hon. Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta and was climaxed by the change of guards which all happened concurrently.
The long awaited moment of the transition of power was brought to an end by a word of prayer from Bishop Mark Kariuki, the presiding bishop of the Deliverance Church of Kenya and a renown father of the land. This auspicious occasion was seasoned by celebrations of song and dance performed by various Kenyan artistes and the Zabron Singers team from Tanzania.
Heads of state President Samia Suluhu of the Tanzanian Republic, gave a speech that was filled with congratulatory messages to President HE Dr. William Samoei Ruto and his Deputy Hon. Rigathi Gachagua on their inauguration.
She urged that the coexistence between both governments should be there even in this new term. Hon. Everiste Ndashimye of Burundi, expressed his pride in Kenya as a country that has had a peaceful and fair electoral process and therefore being an envy to all other African states. He stated that the relationship between Kenyans and Burundians should grow even more.
HE Dr. William Samoei Ruto also gave his speech thanking Kenyans for a peaceful transition and entrusting him with the top job and promised to deliver extensively to all Kenyans equally. He also touched on key reforms that he plans to execute in the coming weeks to ensure Kenyans are eased on pressing economic issues in the farming, banking and education sectors.
A glorious round trip around the stadium by the just installed 5th President of Kenya, Dr. William Samoei Ruto, marked the end of a beautiful inauguration ceremony.
By Cynthia Ainga