The 2010 Constitution anniversary has taken a personal turn for Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who has remembered the late Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga as he reflected on the historic day they stood together at Uhuru Park.
Kalonzo, who was Vice President at the time, said the memory of the August 27, 2010 promulgation had become more painful after the deaths of the two leaders who shared the platform with him.
"I return to that day with a heavy heart. Of the three of us who stood on that dais, I am the only one still walking among you. President Kibaki rested on 21st April 2022 and Raila died on 15th October last year," Kalonzo said.
He recalled how Kibaki formally ushered in the new constitutional order as Raila and other national leaders joined him during the ceremony attended by thousands of Kenyans.
The former Vice President said the moment carried the weight of years of political uncertainty, with the country finally adopting a new framework for governance.
Kalonzo said one of the moments that remained firmly etched in his memory was the 21-gun salute fired during the ceremony.
“When the 21-gun salute went off, I remember thinking that the country had finally exhaled after holding its breath for far too long,” he said.
He said the events of that day now come with an added responsibility, particularly because two of the leaders who helped guide the country through the transition are no longer alive.
“That leaves me with a duty I do not treat lightly: to keep faith with what the three of us, and millions of Kenyans, put our names to,” he said.
Kalonzo said Kenyans had embraced the Constitution after a difficult period in the country's political history, with the document intended to provide a new direction for governance.
He called on citizens to remain committed to its principles instead of treating it as a document whose importance changes with political circumstances.
“Sixteen years ago, we chose the Constitution to end chaos. Let us choose it again today and every day, until the promise on the paper is the reality in every village in Kenya,” he said.
The Wiper leader further described the Constitution as a lasting protection for Kenyans, urging citizens to defend it and ensure its provisions are respected.
“The Constitution is not a document for seasons. It is our shield and defender,” he said.
His message came as Kenya marked 16 years since the Constitution was promulgated at Uhuru Park on August 27, 2010, following its approval through the 2010 referendum.
The anniversary has once again drawn attention to the changes introduced by the Constitution and the progress made in putting its provisions into practice.
Among the key changes was the introduction of devolution, which established county governments and transferred various functions and resources from the national level.
The Constitution also expanded the Bill of Rights and created institutions aimed at improving accountability and strengthening checks and balances within government.
For Kalonzo, however, the anniversary was not only about the constitutional changes introduced in 2010. It was also a moment to remember Kibaki and Raila and the role they played in the events that brought the new constitutional order into force.
As the country marked the milestone, Kalonzo's reflection brought the focus back to the three leaders who shared the Uhuru Park dais 16 years ago, with him now looking back as the only surviving member of that trio.