KENYANS LET’S ESPOUSE INDIVIDUAL THINKING AS VOTERS

Another election year is here. However, we need to ask ourselves honest questions, have we learned from the past mistakes and success cases that time have afforded us from other quarters of life? Have we as Kenyans come to appreciate the place of individual thinking, reflection, analyzing from course to effect in matters of great concern such as the election of leaders from civic leadership to presidency? Have we ever taken time to undertake a personal examination on what drives our perception, action, and choices particularly in choice of who to vote for? One of the inalienable rights that we are endowed with as human beings is the capacity to think, to employ our mind rationally and objectively in evaluating or dealing with a given issue or situation as individuals and thus taking the responsibility of our words and actions. Me think whenever two people are always in agreement without any iota of difference in thinking either one of them or both are not thinking. For me, then, it calls for serious scrutiny when a whole community is thinking in the same way, acting in a photocopied manner on leadership, always. There should be a testimony of unity in diversity particularly when it comes to leadership choices. For long as Kenyans we have crucified the amazing beauty the tapestry of diversity on the altar of tribalism. And, the consequences are painful. One of the unfortunate result is the plant of bad leadership and its seedlings that are sprouting everywhere with their bitter fruits of corruption, incompetence, a struggling economy, not to mention the last post election violence that claimed the lives of more than 1,300 Kenyans as well as wanton destruction of properties worthy a fortune for this nation. Most of the time we Kenyan anchor our blame on the painful realities we are going through on bad leadership, but the truth be told, we are the molders of ours leaders: Ours leaders are a reflection of the total sum of us, Kenyans voters. Ours leaders define what we stand for as a people. They are a portrait our individual and collective thinking is. Let me explain a little bit. If we just swallow the propaganda of some of our leaders who are out there to perpetuate their selfish interests as truth to live by then we are so vulnerable to distinguish lies from truth. If we are a people who are driven by whatever we are told by our leaders, for example such and such a tribe are this and that based on stereo types then we lack moral power to distinguish between right and wrong. If we are a people who can be bought and sold during campaigns to vote for someone - that is a proclamation to the entire world of how cheap we are, a people without dignity, principles to stand on. My fellow Kenyans we have a huge potential, whether we are rich or poor, educated or not, from this or that tribe - to think, act and speak as individuals fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God. Yes, we can stand to be counted by being thinkers and not reflectors of other people biased perceptions, stereotypes, malice, hatred, propaganda, egocentrism, corruption, nepotism, hooliganism to name a few. We cannot afford to let other people to think for us hence becoming mere puppets or robots programmed by someone else. Indeed, one old mama got it right when she said that if you ain’t got an education just think. The wise man Solomon summed it up precisely with precision that as a man or woman thinketh so he or she is. A leader is someone who influences people towards a certain ways of thinking, acting and even speaking. A leader is a teacher, a role model, a set pacer in one. Yes, a leader should expect his or her followers to think in a particular way and behave in a given manner. Here is an example what the apostle Paul expected from his followers: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” My question goes to our honorable leaders both the incumbent and those aspiring for various positions – from the ways Kenyan masses behave how will you sincerely grade yourself? Have you produced independent thinkers, a people with integrity and a higher purpose of living? A people who can dare to correct you when you are taking the wrong trajectory in politics and leadership in general? Can you proudly stand by the people under your influence and say they are imitating you? As leaders to you have the interest of your people in your heart by being a role model? Can you be counted to cry with the suffering and celebrate with those who are rejoicing for example in this forth coming election when you as an individual or your party have lost? We need leaders who can be defined by pure thinking, sincere motives, humility to accept their limitations, touched by the challenges in our societies and country; yes, leaders who have died to self to transform their followers thus our societies. In conclusion, our leaders are our reflection and we are the reflection of our leaders. We are all to blame for bad leadership that this country has endured for long. It takes all of us to thoughtfully sit back and give our nation a balm of healing from past wounds, usher in an amazing present and unveil a desirable future; yes we can do this in this forth coming general election. Let us just take time to think.