Why we need a new crop of leaders in Kenya

On impeachments, teachers’ strike and my beloved country

Jubilee government, even by their manifesto has been underwhelming. While, they lean more towards the right, despite lacking any sense of discernible ideology, even to businesses, they have been hurtful. Even the bloated coalition government that had Raila Odinga whine on constantly on pettiest thing such as a lack of a toilet or a carpet did better.

Of course, those blinded by ethnicity, our collective love for mediocrity, and a total lack of awareness of the future or any sense of responsibility to the next generation will beg to differ. Even the painful and obvious facts cannot change the hearts of the people afraid of their ugliness (not physical) to stand in front of the mirror and confront the ugly truth.

Kenya is a land of strikes. I guess teachers will be added something small for their troubles. But no sooner they will settle in class than doctors and nurses will hit the streets. And soon, it will be lecturers. Of all the governments, Jubilee seems the least prepared to handle any large-scale industrial actions. Cabinet secretaries lack any charm, professionalism, and a sense of being, wisdom and negotiation skills to end some of these deadlocks. I recently saw that we have sunk so low as to start comparing what our teachers are paid with other countries. Yet Kenya is a capitalist country that operates in a different realm.

I like Uhuru. He is cool, charming and a good guy. But I doubt his commitment to rescuing the country. If we sink any lower, it will be tragic. The talk about impeachment! Well, if Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetangula are the ones calling for impeachment, I will remain cynical. While I have respected Kalonzo in recent time for being steadfast and consistent, the fact that he was in power for more than 25 years, and did nothing memorable, makes me highly sceptical. For Wetangula, well I see no big difference between him and those in the government. And the impeachment argument will obviously go ethnic and CORD are thoroughly disadvantaged, not just in parliament, but everywhere. They are still disorganized, lack any sense of cohesion, guidance and ideas or purpose. If you give Jubilee a D-, Cord will get a weak C-.

A third force would be ideal. But it is non-existent. We disappointed Peter Kenneth and Ole Kiyapi. From experience, the least charismatic people normally make the better, more development minded leaders than the charismatic ones. Just have a look at the most colourful politicians and check on their development track records.

For me, we need a totally new order that will not have the typical greed that has characterized the useless generations that took over after independence. We need people driven by ideas. Driven by a creative entrepreneur spirit that creates a better business environment for business, not for looting taxes. An order that is empathetic, values the lives of each Kenyan, invests in the health and education sector, with no element of bias. People who actually want to serve others, not grab land and build flats and commercial premises. People capable of sacrificing for a better country.

I’m a dreamer. But that is what Kenya wants. Anything less is a recipe for inescapable chaos that will crumble all the empires those who steal are busy building. Anytime you steal from the government, there is a family that is going to sleep hungry, some mother who is going to die because an ambulance didn’t have fuel, a child missing on school fees, a teacher running out of the school equipment, a road that is not re-carpeted in time, causing delays or accidents. Think about it.

An average Kenyan politicians lacks the ability to even imagine such. He thinks of himself or herself, his family or her family, their lovers and themselves some more. That is why we have a bunch of sycophants, educated no less, who are willing to defend the indefensible and you wonder why the government spent so much schooling them.

Where is this new order that can save Kenya?