Three weapons youths are using to smoke out mannerless politicians

Protesters climb a police water cannon truck while protesting against the Finance Bill 2024 in downtown Nairobi on June 25, 2024. [AFP] Gaining power is work, but it is only the first step. Gaining a position is the beginning of a journey to prove you take honour seriously. For a long time, this honour meter has been broken, leaving politicians to provide their own often manipulated readings. But the good news is that the moral compass is back! This time, it is not wielded by just one person - it is a whole generation with their friends alongside them. The church, traditionally a major producer of values, finds itself under scrutiny today because it ceased production on its values assembly line long ago. As society seeks institutions to shape its values, the church remains just one option. While the government, at large articulates and implements reforms, the church has yet to publicly demonstrate any signs of a reform plan. If the church fails to seize this opportunity to initiate and carry out reforms, it may effectively signal its disinterest in the future. In its current state, the church risks becoming irrelevant to the needs of future generations. The writing is on the wall: show us your morality, and we'll judge your maturity. Youths themselves are not perfect, but they are telling the country that they do not want a crisis-mate for a leader. They want someone who is experienced enough to lead them and the country out of difficult situations. Just as they drink, they want their driver to be sober. Sobriety here encompasses deep considerations of character. Some people are drunk with power, yet they abstain from wine! The cleansing must extend to a new leadership philosophy where ethical sensitivity surpasses ethnic balance. Humility is the currency of the humane. It is not a quality reserved only for the poor; rather, it involves having a creator consciousness - living with the awareness that neither the world we inhabit nor the life we possess belongs solely to us. However, political competition often fuels pride, as different actors strive to portray themselves favourably while disparaging their opponents. Humility facilitates mutual respect. It enables a government to embrace the perspectives of its people, even when esteemed advisors suggest otherwise. Humility eschews ostentatious titles in favour of practical work attire. It is crucial to recognize that institutions and positions themselves should embody humility. Power devoid of humility leads to humiliation. Spirituality should take precedence over religiosity. Religious practices have frequently been misused through collaborations between priests and those in power. Acts of giving have transitioned from genuine kindness to clandestine vote-buying tactics. The ritual of attending church every Sunday has become conflated with a display of religious fervour. Politicians often garner public favour by showcasing their church attendance. However, it is evident from observation that their presence is not solely motivated by the spiritual message, but also by a desire to mingle with the masses. When politicians quote from the Bible, congregations applause, which is sometimes misconstrued as endorsement. This outward, showy display of faith, divorced from genuine moral authority, has contributed to a decline in traditional church attendance. Increasingly, people are pursuing spiritual authenticity by distinguishing between spirituality and mere religious observance, with private spirituality gaining popularity. Sacredness compels power to bow. What is more sacred than life? At the core of extrajudicial killings lies the disposability of life, used for political gain, power, or convenience. This indifference is why governments often delay addressing internal conflicts-they lack regard for life. Dignity rests on the sacred, and listening to people underscores its importance. Understanding power through sacredness is crucial. However, some prioritize wealth and power over life itself, viewing it as expendable when it obstructs their goals. Untrustworthy power is rejected. Politicians exhibit overconfidence when wielding raw power. Rather than recognizing the public's trust as an opportunity, they self-congratulate on their cunning and skill. This 'we won' mentality subjects the people to condescending treatment. Such arrogance undermines trust, as citizens are left with mere tokens while politicians bask in their own pride. Gaining trust requires genuine engagement-listening to needs, and believing in honest expression even when it challenges preconceptions. People value promises kept, and feeling respected. The youth population is cashless and therefore considered too broke to be a threat. Yes, the youth have no money, but they had three things going for them: red-hot anger, large numbers, and mastery of the virtual space. Millions of angry people have become a force that articulates facts on why the government cannot be trusted and have envisioned actions to create a government that people can trust. Money is quite something, but it will never be everything. Money gives you purchasing power, but it is not the ultimate power. The scriptures that mention money as the answer to all things also warn that it is the root of all evil. Money can resolve many issues when used as a tool for good. However, it becomes the centre of evil when it is worshipped like a god, leading to behaviours driven by the lack of empathy, extravagant displays of wealth (PDO), arrogance, and deceptive confidence. Money worship reduces people to mere commodities, serving the interests of Mammon's temple. It is crucial to recognize that there is money sourced from God and money that becomes a god. This distinction should be a daily reminder, like checking watermarks. Love is not just personal; it is also institutional. Many Kenyans do not feel loved but rather despised by their systems-systems that demand bribes for the smallest services, offer poor quality at exorbitant prices, deceive with lies from their leaders, fail to provide timely assistance in times of trouble, blame them for their own plight, and corner them into hopeless situations. Both power and love are not mutually exclusive-political power is best wielded with compassion towards the people. Wisdom is not constrained by age. The belief that older generations alone possess wisdom often discourages youths from questioning their elders. But age doesn't inherently confer wisdom; it is the result of deep reflection on life's experiences. Wisdom is earned by those who take life seriously enough to ponder its complexities.

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