It is time for our politicians to start leading by example

President Uhuru Kenyatta, Deputy President William Ruto and Former Prime minister Raila Odinga leave the Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi after the official launch of the Building Bridges to a United Kenya Taskforce Report on October 26, 2020.[Stafford Ondego, Standard]

Kenyan political leaders are famous for making declarations that are meant to endear them to their followers. It is common to hear them declare their commitment to the rule of law and other ethical and moral issues that guide the behaviour of leaders in private and public. Unfortunately, many of the leaders do not walk their talk and such declarations remain mere words.

As a result, their followers malign each other on social media platforms and engage in physical altercations whenever they clash. Whether our political leaders are a reflection of who we are or we are a reflection of who they are, one thing is clear: Just like our political idols, we love to uphold the rule of law only on paper. Out on the streets, we grab every opportunity to satisfy our selfish needs regardless of who gets hurt.

The leaders’ hypocrisy has especially been laid bare during these Covid-19 times. When the first case of the disease was announced in March 2020, many people had to change their conduct in order to comply with the directives by the Ministry of Health on social distancing. Our political leaders, on the contrary, continued with normal campaigns for the Building Bridges Initiative, putting their lives and those of their followers in great danger. This disregard for the laid down health protocols by the leaders is perhaps the reason many Kenyans have slowly let their guards down.

The apathy towards the various health guidelines is evidence that Kenyans are growing increasingly tired of following guidelines while the political elite, who are supposed to lead by example, are seen in public flouting them. During the Madaraka Day celebrations in Kisumu, for example, there were crowds of people at the venue and on the streets, despite earlier announcements that admission to the venue would be limited in adherence to the social distancing protocol.

Collectively, our political leaders have been the weakest link in many of our fights as a country. From using foul language to address their opponents, to fighting in public when they differ in opinion, to fraudulently using their positions to acquire illegal wealth, we have seen them display sharp contrasts between what they say and how they conduct themselves.

Maybe for a change, it is time for the politicians to lead by example. Better still, maybe it is time for Kenyans to learn to defy political leaders whenever they are deemed misleading. What if nobody showed up to a political rally organised in the midst of a pandemic? What if the youth told off a politician for trying to instigate ethno-political tension? What if we asked them to settle their own scores and leave us out of their political shenanigans?

As the country gets ready for the 2022 General Election, maybe it is time for the electorate to lead the way in guiding the political class on how to walk the talk. I know it might be easier said than done, but it does not hurt to try to resist the temptation to blindly follow the political elite even when they themselves are clearly lost. We might not get all the way there in one leap, but we sure can begin with small steps.

Dr Kiambati is a communications trainer and consultant, Kenyatta University