ASK NOT WHAT YOUR COUNTRY CAN DO FOR YOU

ASK NOT WHAT YOUR COUNTRY CAN DO FOR YOU

            On 29^th February, 2012 Nairobi residents woke up to new graffiti images on the walls around the city centre. The images depicted bald-headed and big-headed vultures in suits, an image on a public toilet. Words on the side described MP’s/ vultures as thieves, irresponsible, selfish, missing in action and pathetic. Another graffiti image showed an MP sitting on a chair, his feet grinding into a woman’s head. ‘MP’s screwing Kenyans since 1963’ reads a footnote. Boniface Mwangi, a CNN award winning photo-journalist is part of the crew who is behind the graffiti images on walls and parking lots. From an interview with a journalist, he said “These paintings are passing a message to Kenyans to vote out their irresponsible leaders currently in the leadership.”

            There are a lot of expectations by Kenyans from their leaders especially those coming in after elections. Judging from the responses by Kenyans on the vulture graffiti images; Kenyans are discontent with the leadership. The discontent is not just at nationwide level but even in education institutions. In Daystar University for instance, some students do not see the need for DUSA (Daystar University Students Association). Joseph Mararo, a fourth year student thinks there are no leaders in Daystar. He has no expectations from them whatsoever.  “Whether they are there or not, I really do not care they are for show.” He says. For him he has never felt that DUSA have done it, the leaders come and go but it is always the same thing. Mark Mukunya, another student echoes the same sentiments. “It is ceremonial, if anything the people who do the work are just the committee members.” The student leaders might have a different view on these but the people they lead are the ones who decide whether they are competent or not. Shedeur Kimutai, a communication student has only seen few true leaders in Daystar. According to her the DUSA chairperson in 2008-2009 academic years was the best. Another student leader she praises is Pancras Mutuma who was in the Social Welfare docket. He was voted in twice in two academic years, a courageous move thinks Shedeur. “For the people to vote you twice to be their leader, you must be doing something,” she says.

            The question that seems to pop out, why is almost everyone disappointed with the current leadership? Kenyans have found a way to deal with it simply because there is nothing they can do now. As the vulture graffiti images puts it these people have been in the system for so long, to get change they have to be removed. According to Mararo, the system has locked out the good people. The few good leaders have no chance to do their best because of the structure of the system. Majority of the leaders in right now are already in the system, changing that is not an easy task. “The guys in the system right now are like vultures”, says Mukunya. He supports the vulture graffiti images and wishes they were put on billboards just to create more awareness. “Kenyan leaders are the highest paid in the world, therefore we expect them to do their best,” he adds.

            Everyone has a view on the current government and the leadership. Some think the government should be run as a business with the president as the C.E.O, if you slack in your work you get off the job and go home. Many seem to appreciate Kibaki’s leadership but think of him as a manager more than a leader. He speaks less but does more compared to the others who speak more and do less. Kenyans have different expectations from their leaders, not the current ones but those who will be voted in. “To start with I want a young leader,” says Mukunya. “I want a leader with a vision, who sees the future and know that the future starts right now not tomorrow,” he adds. He wants a leader who is not there for the benefits and then hand over but somebody who can unify the country or even nations. His example is Nelson Mandela who in a way represents all African leaders. If the country gets that person who can unify everybody then we will be on the right path. Mararo seems to echo Mukunya; according to him we need a Moses, someone who will lead the rest. He believes that for you to be a leader it should not be about the money but the will and the passion to lead. A leader should have a vision for the community. Francis Maina wants a leader like the North Korean President Kim Jong-il  who revolutionised the 3rd world nation to become a first world nation within a ten-year period. Shedeur on the other hand wants a leader who can take responsibility, be accountable and also mentor other to fill in their place. According to her, you only succeed as a leader when your predecessor has succeeded.

             Is there hope for Kenya to get such leaders? There are different views to this question but most believe we can get there as a country. The turning point should be we the voters. Once the vultures are rooted out, we should vote in the right people who might just be true leaders. Isn’t that the ideology being propagated by the vulture graffiti images? As Kenyans we need to hold our leaders accountable, we have become a lot that enjoys being lied to. They say they will do we don’t ask how, they don’t do we don’t ask why. Shedeur thinks holding debates between the running candidates will bring them to book. She believes if  a leader does not deliver what he/she promised then we have records we can go back to ask why then send them home. If we start this practice, the incoming leaders will have to deliver because they know the consequences.  Mararo believes the new constitution will change the system and open up chances to true leaders. Like Shedeur he thinks the people demand accountability from leaders, and this is evident from songs composed by Kenyan artistes.  An example is Liar by Villagers band. “Do not be shocked if we experience a revolution in a few years.” Mararo quickly adds

            The point here is that good leadership starts with us the citizens. Who we vote for matters, if we still vote in the vultures then nothing will change, same thing will happen if we think and vote as an ethnic group.  The decision solely rests with us; we should vote in the right people and root out the vultures in our leadership system. 

Echoing the words of the 35^th American President, the late John F. Kennedy “Ask not what your country can do for you ask what you can do for your country”.

Recently a music artiste Julius Owino alias Juliani was in Daystar University for a concert in his tour. His music tour in Universities is dubbed Kama Si Sisi and it propagates the idea that it is us Kenyans to choose and decide our future. Kama Si Sisi translates to (If it is not us), therefore if not us who else?