A moment of gratitude.

Phew! Such gratitude I owe to the most reverred individual in history – Kofi Annan. Backed by his team of Emminent Persons, Mr. Annan has given Kenya a new lease in life.

With His Excellency, President Jakaya Kikwete, stepping in to remind the two leaders, Hon,. Raila Odinga and president Kibaki, that this country is much greater than either of them, the outcome was really what Kenyans had been anticipating for all this time. It was time for the ultimate sacrifice to be made. Egoes were swept aside, pride swallowed and arms extended to each other in a national show of companionship, patriotism and teamwork.

Where would we be now if Kofi Annan would have succumbed to the hardline tactics of the two negotiation teams? What would have happened if Raila had refused to step down from his erstwhile “impossible” demands? And what would have transpired had the President decided to turn away from the desperate pleas of Kenyans; pleas for a coalition Government?

I heave a huge sigh of relief; for all the mothers who were separated from their children, for all the men who lost their limbs and property in senseless violence, for all the children who couldn’t go to school for fear of meeting marauding gangs in the lonely highways…

Thank you Kofi Annan for your resilience and strength; for your belief in a better Kenya. Thank you Raila Odinga for shoing us that a nation is more important than an individual. Thank you President Kibaki for ignoring the twisted and hardline tactics of your Government, and listening to us.

Thank you Benjamin Mkapa, for your honesty and faith in Kenya.

Thank you Graca Machel; a force to be reckoned with indeed; a voice of reason and a shimmer of hope for all Kenyan women and children.

We owe you our deepest gratitude and our prayers will always remain with you.

God bless you. God bless Kenya.