{UAH} Edmund/Pojim/WBK: GAITHO: Only the enemies of development would begrudge Uhuru - Opinion | Daily Nation

http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/Opinion/Only-the-enemies-of-development-would-begrudge-Uhuru/-/440808/2987532/-/q18b77z/-/index.html

GAITHO: Only the enemies of development would begrudge Uhuru - Opinion

A lot of fuss is being raised over the frequent-flyer miles President Uhuru Kenyatta is amassing.

In my honest view, this is just the normal serial whining from the usual lot of disgruntled elements.

We should all, as patriots, be applauding when our beloved President flies the flag to the farthest corners of the world.

Our high-flying President is putting Kenya on the map.

He has proved to be a consummate spokesman and that is why our small country punches above its weight at global forums.

Just as Kenya is a recognised superpower in athletics — regularly upstaging sporting, economic, and military giants such as China, the United States, Russia, Britain, Germany, and France — it is also recognised as a leader on many other fronts.

At the African Union, the voice of Kenya is heard loud and clear, pushing the cause of African nationalism after President Kenyatta abandoned the "wait and see" foreign policy of his predecessors.

Kenya also stands tall at the United Nations as one of the key movers of the African agenda.

Despite a modest population, economy and military, Kenya is recognised as one of the continental fulcrums, alongside South Africa in the south, of course Nigeria in the west, and Egypt in the north.

This recognition could not have come about with a sedentary president who does not move out of his comfort zone.

Presidents Barack Obama of the United States, Vladimir Putin of Russia, Xi Jinping of China, and François Hollande of France, as well as Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain, among other leaders of powerful and influential nations, must of necessity, traverse the globe.

PRODUCTIVITY
They do so not to satisfy the wanderlust or to have fun in exotic and distant locales, but to show the flag of their countries, push their foreign policy agenda, and secure trade and commercial advantages for their nations. It is work, not play.

With his globe-trotting ways, President Kenyatta, as we were told by State House, is securing major wins for Kenya.

I would add that he is also showing that he stands tall alongside presidents Obama, Putin, Xi, and leaders of other great and powerful countries.

And if he amasses more frequent-flyer miles than the rest put together, then more power to Kenya if its president gets into the Guinness Book of Records.

In any case, we would do well to remember that President Kenyatta did not surrender his human and constitutional rights on being elected.

He may have become public property and lost the right to privacy on assuming the onerous office, but the expansive Bill of Rights in the new Constitution guarantees him freedom of movement.

He is free to travel anywhere he so wishes, whether on State duties or in private pursuit of fun, pleasure, and business — what we used to call a "busy working holiday" of President Jomo Kenyatta's long sojourns at the coast.

Our president is also free to travel with whomsoever he wishes and on his travels to wine and dine with anyone of his choice, for the aforementioned Bill of Rights still guarantees his freedom of association and assembly.

Those raising questions about the foreign travels of our President, who is anointed by God, can only be driven by malice, jealousy, and hatred for their own country.

Since not every Kenyan can afford to travel and experience the wonders and delights of foreign shores, it should be obvious that we should entrust the one we elected to enjoy these delights on our behalf.

Only enemies of development, obviously under the influence of foreign masters, would dare fault the back-breaking sacrifices of prolonged aeroplane travel that the President is enduring for us.

Constant jet lag, stomach bugs from strange and alien food, and the threat of deep vein thrombosis, all illustrate the sacrifices the President is willing to make while the rest of us go about our risk-free existence.

The President's travels also serve to demonstrate that Kenya has come of age.

He does not need to be at home micro-managing the country, but is confident that the systems will function perfectly in his absence.

Actually, we could abolish the presidency and Kenya will continue to hum along on autopilot.

GAITHO: Only the enemies of development would begrudge Uhuru - Opinion | Daily Nation

http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/Opinion/Only-the-enemies-of-development-would-begrudge-Uhuru/-/440808/2987532/-/q18b77z/-/index.html

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