Heed Obama's words, change political habits

President Barack Obama’s three-day stay accorded Kenyans the most serene period in recent times. Kenyans were united in welcoming and listening to a “long-lost” son and brother. Everyone, it seems, hang on to the words as they rolled off his lips. The praise and encouragement Obama had for Kenyans are things that don’t come easily from our leaders these days.

Kenyans cannot recall a time when they sat to articulate their concerns and chart the way forward in a constructive manner without putting their tribal and political affiliations first. In fact, there has been no time that Kenyan leaders sat at a round-table discussion forum to address issues of unemployment, women and girl-child empowerment or job creation for the hordes of educated but unemployed youth.