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Kenya is headed to a transition in leadership. On August 9th 2022, Kenyan citizens will march to the polls to elect their preferred leader. This particular election is more than important because the outgoing Jubilee government has completed its second and final term.
President Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta, Kenya’s fourth president and son of the first president Jomo Kenyatta will be retiring after reaching his two-term limit as per the Constitution of Kenya 2010. On Madaraka Day he tooted his own horn giving his score card a stellar grade. Among the many accomplishments he hailed, roads was the biggest and most notable one.
“And today, I am proud to record that, if the Third Administration built 2,000 Kms of tarmac roads, we accelerated his achievement by building over 11,000 Kms, which is close to six times what they built. In fact, we have built more roads in 9 years than what the previous administrations combined, including the colonizers, built in 123 years,” said Uhuru in his last Madaraka Day speech.
In his speech, Uhuru attempted to draw a contrast between his achievements and his responsibilities/expectations from the electorate. As much as his speech stated optimistic facts, he leaves behind a nation plagued by cycles of looting and siphoning of public funds.
The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics states that the number of Kenyans living in poverty increased from 38% to 53% from 2014 to 2022. With the ongoing war in Ukraine and the estimated rise in global inflation, that percentage could only rise.
When you think about the 2013 and 2017 election periods you can’t help but ask the question, where did we get it wrong? The Jubilee government promised heaven but till this very day, lots of what they promised remains to be pipe dreams. How would the voters have guessed that these leaders were not going to deliver on their expectations? Is it possible to sniff and accurately detect a bad leader before you vote for them?
To answer these questions, you need to look at the characteristics of a good political leader.
Characteristics of a good political leader
Connects with people
An ordinary Kenyan goes through many hurdles to just make it through their day. The rising inflation has made food prices soar through the roof. When getting to work you have to contend with hours of traffic and fluctuating fares based on peak and off-peak hours.
The public health centers in our towns are not up to par. Medicine that is zero-rated by government is scarce because some of it is smuggled into private pharmacies and sold for profit. Clean water and healthy sanitation are not available to all Kenyans.
You need a leader who has gone through these experiences or at best has an experiential knowledge of what it means to be an ordinary Kenyan. With that in mind you’re sure as day that this person will make policies and formulate bills that will aim at improving the life of ordinary citizens.
Proven track record of work experience with positive results
When companies post vacancies they usually state very clearly that they need someone who is experienced in that particular field. That’s why we send CVs so that the interviewers can assess our qualifications.
Similarly, giving someone an important a job as making decisions on behalf of millions of Kenyans, should not be taken lightly. Assess your candidate’s work history. What have they achieved? What kind of decisions have they made in their capacity as leaders and how did they affect people around them.
When there is a crisis, how did they rise to the occasion? What proven achievements can be attributed to their professional prowess and ingenuity? Carefully vet them because the next five years will be shaped by these individuals you put your confidence in. You want to make sure that you have the best performers working for you.
One who doesn’t have greed
Have you ever wondered what happens in a continent which is endowed with natural wealth but is the poorest in the world? The answer is simple. Greed. Africa is blessed with minerals, good weather, rainfall, soil, conducive climate, wild animals and so much more.
However a keen look at the Kenyan example, will show you that the Swahili saying is true. “Kikulacho ki nguoni mwako” (What’s eating you is in your clothes). History says that the Jomo Kenyatta regime didn’t redistribute land as promised when the colonialists left. Instead powerful people in government at the time who were friends of the first president went on to possess those large tracks of land. They paid very little for the value of those lands.
The squatter problem has persisted since. Kenyans are paying large sums in loan interests for money lent to Kenya. But time and again reports have leaked of how these loans find their way into private hands to benefit private individuals.
Greed has drawn us back as a country and will drive us to our knees if we vote for the wrong people. How do I know if a politician has the capacity for greed? The internet is a resource that you should use to your advantage. Research about your potential leader and look at his/her public record.
If you see any hint of greed such as land grabbing scandals and other corruption scandals best believe that trend is bound to continue.
Bold and courageous
Reminisce on the journey of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela and the courage that exuded. He fought hard against apartheid and repeatedly put his life on the line to demand equal treatment of black people. When he realized that non-violent means was not helping him and his friends such as OR Tambo achieve their dreams, he travelled to Algeria. In 1962 Madiba went to Algeria to learn about guerilla warfare.
When he came back in 1964 he was tried and gave the famous speech “I am prepared to die” while at the dock. This speech garnered international acclaim and later on he was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Even when in prison, the apartheid government gave a lot of conditions for Mandela’s release. However he completely refused to budge until FW De Klerk released him in 1990.
His courageous resilience and determination gave birth to one of the strongest economies in Africa. In Kenya we need a leader who is not afraid of confronting the status quo and dismantling years of kleptocracy that have been solidified by a complicit Jubilee government.
The courageous leader will fearlessly enforce the law without favor for the benefit of the general public.
As you go to the polls this August, choose your leaders wisely. That is the only thing you can control and influence right now. Once the candidates take the reins of power you can only hope that they’ll make good on their word.
