The Power of a 'POOR' Vote
This morning, driven
by curiosity from Facebook updates by my Kenyan friends about Mike Sonko’s interview
on Citizen TV, I have watched the video clip and seen one hot lady anchor Belinda
interviewing the flamboyant Mike Sonko.All goes well, I find Belinda so
professional although she could have dealt more on the strategy that Sonko has
for Nairobi County. He is as he says, a man of the people and I must admit I
haven’t heard any politician talk about bringing leadership to the people, ‘Power
of the people by the people for the people’ is one smart phrase. Should I
confess that Sonko is a shrewd politician?
A few minutes in the
debate and the questions props, ‘who is Sonko and where does his wealth come from?’
As he explains who he is and where he acquired his wealth, I hear this, ‘my father was a very influential, wealthy businessman,
so I come from a POOR family’. That makes me yearn to listen more!!! He then
quotes a few Articles of the constitution, and I am wow! Sonko is not what I
may be thinking he is! But it is while asked about Bishop Wanjiru, that I couldn’t
help laughing when he equates the ninth commandment, ’Thou Shall Not Give
False Statement Against Thy Neighbor’ to her holding false degrees!!!!Quite one
entertaining this man Sonko!
This interview comes
a few days after we watched the Kidero/Waititu face off, which drew a lot of
controversy with many people discovering and applauding the Waititu they thought
they knew and pitting Dr. Kidero for ‘patronizing Waititu using his Queen English’,
which he was told, will not take him anywhere near the gubernatorial seat.
Yes it was all on the
screen when Waititu threw stones and administered ‘instant justice Embakasi style’,
and a few months ago when he publicly condemned the presence of a certain
community in Nairobi, apparently causing death of three members of that
community and costing him his job. But all that is forgotten; he is now a ‘clean
man’, a better the devil you know than the angel (Kidero) you don’t know.
Sonko too has been at
it; punching walls, rolling on the floor, bailing out the MRC cessation, name
it.But now, after the interview, all that is forgotten and now he is a clean Sonko
that ‘we didn’t know’.
Going by the
commentaries that I am seeing, and coupled by their ‘TRUCK records’, it is
possible that Sonko and Waititu may clinch the Senator /Governor seats in Nairobi.
From their interviews, it is evident that both of them believe in one thing,
doing ANYTHING, whatever it takes, to deliver justice to the ‘common mwananchi’.That means to them the RESPECT FOR THE RULE OF LAW is useless.
Their greatest advantage is that they are so informed about the issues on the ground, they speak the language of Mwananchi unlike their adversaries.
Their greatest advantage is that they are so informed about the issues on the ground, they speak the language of Mwananchi unlike their adversaries.
I must admit that
both Sonko and Waititu displayed an immense humility and tolerance during the interviews,
although I found Waititu trying to play, on a very light note, the ‘small man’!
Even the Kenyan elite have given them a go ahead, since the so called ‘suit wearers, those with
impeccable English and High titles’, have failed them in the past.
But one question, are
these the yardsticks that should be used to test able leadership?
These seats demand RESPONSIBLE and ACCOUNTABLE leaders. In most advanced democracies, future Presidents have mostly at one time served as either governors or senators. Their track records can therefore be judged by their
performance in those units.
As of now, none of
these potential candidates for Nairobi County seem to fully understand the
issues affecting the county, not even Dr.Kidero.
I was expecting to
hear the aspirants come up with ideas that are needed to uplift the poor from under
development by addressing the issue of poverty
and marginalization since social
injustice is one issue that is hindering us from achieving the Vision 2030 and other Millenium Goals.Insecurity is another pressing issue
for Nairobi County, going by the numerous terrorist attacks that have been
witnessed lately. Unemployment was
not addressed with the vigor it demands; the aspirants needed to tell us what
they intend to do to enhance the creation of employment opportunities through
public/private partnerships.
Other issues that
were not well addressed include housing &infrastructure, improving the rail
transport, investing more into up- to- date crime prevention measures etc.
The role of a Senator
includes representing the County at National Level, protecting the interests of
devolved Government; ensure equity in resource distribution, check the
executive as well as Parliament.
A Governor on the
other hand is one of the most powerful seats in the new system of Government.
His work will include heading the executive of the county government, ensuring that
public services assigned to the county government are properly delivered, ascent
to all laws of the county, appoint the County Executive Committee amongst
others.
Anyone vying for the
Governorship should not be necessarily a politician, but a person with
excellent management and leadership skills needed to foster progress in a county.
These skills will come in handy while implementing all policies of the county
and the national legislation within the county as expected, to manage and
coordinate the functions of the county administration and its departments and
work with other county governors.
That is why the
Kenyan ‘elite’, or ‘educated’, or ‘middle/working class’, need to make sure
that those elected for these positions fit the job description.
They should move from
the comfort of their desks, from ‘tweeter’ or Facebook where they are
busy updating how ‘Belinda’s mini skirt was short’, or how ‘Sonko has proved to
them he is capable’, and ponder about their role in transforming this country
other than waiting for those who are less informed to vote for the wrong leaders.
Comments