Here is why politicians should never downplay the real value of dialogue

When Azimio la Umoja One Kenya supporters were teargased during the March 20,2023 demos in Nairobi. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

What if dialogue was the only way to Kenya's salvation? Would we still reject it? What would that mean to our nation? Naaman had to dip himself in a river he considered dirty. That was his only way to healing. He had dismissed the prophet's dirty-river solution and was returning home in his sick condition. But life is not always delivered on our terms.

His servants persuaded him. His healing came not from his lofty understanding but from the voice of his aides. They should have left their master to his wisdom. But they had faith on his behalf. He had them to thank for his baby-pure skin. We are becoming too philosophical about dialogue in an effort to dismiss its necessity. Dialogue is being rejected as if it serves nothing.

But we can understand such repelling from a power point of view - a measure of humility is a key ingredient in dialogue. But clearly humility is not a word in our leader's vocabulary list right now! Well, it wasn't too for Pharaoh, until it hit home and heart. Our politicians should not downplay the value of dialogue. They may not like it. But it should always be on the cards. There is a place for humility in politics. The absence of humility means the domination of pride and total suppression of opposing points of view.