Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka/ FILE photo
Musyoka who was the first leader to sign the charter by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission said the country cannot afford to backtrack on the new ideals, values and principles on governance set for Kenyans under the new constitutional order.
“I signed the charter because I believe expressions that are of aggressive and abrasive nature often with violent tendencies in our political culture must change,” Musyoka said.
He said Kenyan politicians must change the way they go about seeking votes because the country must always come above all else including personal ambitions.
“It is imperative that all persons interested in any of the electoral positions be it the presidency, governorship, senate, national assembly representative or even county assembly member needs to make this important pledge”, he added.
The VP was speaking in Dallas, Texas where he engaged hundreds of Kenyans in a three-hour county hall interactive forum.
Musyoka said Kenya is endowed with sufficient resources to facilitate economic growth and wealth creation for all but the major challenge was corruption and mismanagement.
If elected president next year, Musyoka promised that his administration will prudently manage public affairs for the benefit of all.
The VP encouraged Kenyans living and working abroad to seek elective posts in the coming elections in order to bring in fresh ideas and management skills to Kenya’s governance.
The Kenyans living in Texas who number up to 80,000 demanded that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission sets up polling stations in at least every state or county where majority of Kenyans live in the United States, if they were to be able to effectively participate in the coming elections.
They argued that with their experience working in a developed country, they would serve the country better in transferring acquired skills and technologies back home if they were given the opportunity to serve.
“We do not only want to vote and elect leaders, we want to participate in how our country is managed. The culture of recycling people from one government to another when there are fresh minds out here who can serve the country better must stop” Said Professor P. Konditi, a Kenyan university don in Dallas.
Musyoka praised Kenyans working abroad for the zeal and dedication they have exhibited wherever they work, adding that they have not embarrassed their country and they have played good ambassadors for Kenya. “You have also been good hosts to our sportsmen and women every time they participate in major sports events abroad,” he said.
The VP is expected in Atlanta, Minnesota and Washington DC before he winds up his tour of the US with engagements with senior US government officials.
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