"We need more of this in Africa", a delighted western diplomat was quoted as saying as the people of Kenya managed a smooth and largely peaceful transfer of power after nearly forty years of rule by the Kenyan African National Union (KANU) party.
The overwhelming victory, by a fragile and hastily built 13-party National Rainbow Coalition (NARC), despite running a lacklustre and disjointed campaign, says something of the thirst for change.
The result offers an opportunity for Kenyans to re-position their country to where it once was - the success story of post-colonial Africa. It will take some doing. The legacy of KANU's incompetent and utterly corrupt misrule is a country where 55 per cent of the population live in dire poverty, where the economy as measured by GDP is back to where it was 13 years ago and where the IMF and the European Union have steadfastly refused to contribute aid because of the systemic corruption.
Mr Daniel arap Moi, ego-tripping president for the last 24 years, is not deserving of a trouble-free retirement. Dragged most reluctantly by aid donors into democratic elections, twice he fomented inter-tribal violence on a grand scale to divide the opposition and steal the election. He does deserve some credit for the largely peaceful election campaign even though he rigged and bought what votes he could. Truly it can be said that the manner of his departure is the greatest thing he has done for his country.
The new president, Mr Mwai Kibaki, has yet to announce his cabinet which is not surprising when within his coalition there are so many parties jostling for power and perks. This is as fragile as coalitions get. United only by a common enemy, it runs the risk of fracturing over the spoils of victory. The new cabinet is certain also to have its share of unsavoury elements. Some of NARC's senior members only departed Mr Moi's government within the last year when they were bypassed in the succession stakes and are as guilty as he is of lining their pockets and worse. Mr Kibaki himself, a gifted economist, served loyally for a decade to 1990 as Mr Moi's vice-president.
The hope must be that the NARC government will live up to its promise to eradicate corruption, grow the economy and tackle meaningfully the AIDS pandemic. The European Union and the IMF must move quickly to restore aid. Former donor countries should reconsider their ban and perhaps grant Mr Kibaki's government the benefit of the doubt. Kenya cannot solve its problems alone.