Kenya's glory is receding

Kenya's economy was larger than most of East African states put together. Kenya has always been the top dog in East Africa. Kenya’s civil society was a pioneer and politically Kenya went democratic first. Kenya was the first to hold American-style presidential debates.

Despite all this glory which Kenya has clearly lost already, a national gloom hovers over the land. Kenya’s glory is receding at a fast rate and for a number of reasons.

We have leaders who don't dream big anymore, instead, they are busy out-stealing each other and in the process stealing our future. They have become myopic. They are leading this nation into insolvency and politically their brains have atrophied. This is in contrast to the leaders in Tanzania. Yes, Tanzania which has slowly been stealing Kenya's pride. President John Pombe Magufuli has fired up the imagination of Tanzanians. He guillotines the corrupt without pity unlike here in Kenya where killing corruption is just but a sick game. The only bright spot Kenya seems to have is our athletes who continue to shine abroad.

Finally although Kenya was the first to intellectually accept political democracy, it has failed to internalize the concept. We have recently witnessed peaceful demonstrations turned chaotic by police brutality. Our state is stuck on reverse. Unlike Tanzania we really have no political parties. CCM in Tanzania is a true ideological mammoth. Political maturity is lacking in the country and political parties are like T-shirts that are changed every day. If the leaders want to rescue Kenya’s lost glory, then it is time they change their priorities.