I was recently invited to attend a live FM radio interview (as has been the case since April 2006), this time on the process of regional integration, in light of the newly re-launched East African Common Market. This market comprising of the 5 East African countries of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda has a potential of serving a combined population of 130 Million East Africans, therefore a vast market for all. Having considered and elaborated on the benefits to business and how to venture into this wider market, I have now found myself grappling with another challenge. 

As Kenyans, we have been known to be fragmented on the basis of our ethnic origins. It is common knowledge that we think of ourselves first as members of our ethnic communities before appreciating our membership of this great nation. We have forgotten the values explicitly explained in our national anthem. Top of them all is brotherhood (and of-course sisterhood) which was meant to reinforce our unity as a Nation. We have also neglected the very explicit value of hard work and instead adopted a culture of getting rich quick whatever it takes. We have even abandoned the value of justice amongst ourselves, the results of which are now obvious.

Under these circumstances, the people brand from Kenya is likely to have relationship challenges with other East Africans. Perhaps there is new need to re-access our Kenyan-ness. We need to re-evaluate the values which were intended to identify us first as Kenyans, as is explicit in our National anthem. As individuals we need to re-evaluate ourselves in light of these values and embrace them as appropriate. It is only then that we will effectively interact and be respected by others for the Kenyans we will become rather than the Kenyans that we are currently.

Mwangi Wanjumbi (Newtimes E-Newsletter Author), Manangement Consultant and Trainer
www.newtimesconsultants.com

Stop Press
When Timothy an aquinance came from visiting Uganda  for the X-mass and New Year holidays,  he read the regular posting  of the Newtimes E-Newsletter that appeared in his mail. He commented thus, ” indeed, I expereinced it all. I am in agreement that we should do something if we expect improved relationships.”

Almost 50 years since independence, we are faced with a great opportunity of re-inventing the future of this great nation, through the envisaged constitutional review. Wananchi have given their views to the Committee of Experts – COEs. The same committee had scanned through volumes of data collated from previous efforts of reviewing the now contentious constitution.

When all the contentious issues are agreed on through parliament and eventually the envisaged national referendum, the task of ensuring responsible leadership will still rest on the voters of this great nation. It is Wananchi   who will eventually decide who implements whatever will be the outcome of the review. So, whether the constitutional review efforts will bring the desired results or not will fully depend on the voters. Why do I have this great feeling?

Some months ago, I had this opportunity of listening to Michael Waweru, the KRA Commissioner General. During his talk at a British Council Leadership Forum, this Chief National Taxman was at pains explaining that his role is only one way – to collect and remit taxes to the government and no more. “The application of the taxes is beyond KRA. In fact, you tax payers are better placed to control the usage of taxes,” said the seemingly unexcited taxman, in answer to a question from an inquisitive ‘tax payer.’ Whaaat?

That must have been the question that was uppermost in the minds of most of the listeners who are without doubt part of the tax paying clientele. But surely, how do we control monies which are already out of our hands in form of taxes?  Notably, this is the revenue that funds government expenditure, Infrastructural development, Constituency Development Fund, Free Primary Education and many other national financial commitments. Incidentally, the strength of any institution including the state itself depends on the financial might as well as effectiveness and efficiency of management of the financial resources.

Apparently, we may not escape responsibility on mismanagement of our national resources as implied by Michael Waweru. Middle class Kenyans may even be more culpable. During electioneering, these Kenyans are too busy attending to their jobs or other personal interests. Many do not even have time to vote or even influence policy direction, yet they contribute much of the national tax revenue especially through direct taxation. In fact, many do not treat the exercise as their duty to stamp authority in management of national affairs. The voting process is largely left at the mercy of politicians and most of the times the highly manipulable ordinary Wananchi. The results are obviously in the public domain.

Ironically, these ordinary Kenyans are more often than not only marginal tax payers, perhaps only through value added tax – VAT. Effectively, highly tax paying middle class Kenyans leave their fate, largely at the mercy of ordinary Kenyans. For not participating fully in the electoral process, could the middle class be blamed for misallocation of the taxes that they have themselves painfully contributed?  Your guess is as good as mine. One may however tend to agree with Michael Waweru. We are ourselves to blame for not participating fully in putting in place the leaders that we would like to see managing our national resources and institutions. More than ever before all of us should now actively participate in putting in place morally upright and credible leaders who can be trusted to take care of our national institutions as well us inspire us into the future.

Meanwhile, the management of our national tax revenue is one of the most important functions bestowed on our national leaders. Effectiveness of the management depends on the people that we put in office to act on our behalf.  So, no matter how well worded or effective the new constitution will be, we will all without exception be required to actively play our leadership roles either as voters or leaders. The alternative is dangerous since the envisaged new constitutional order will only help in redefining the national laws and responsibilities of both the leaders and the voters.

Mwangi Wanjumbi

Many times, I am disappointed at the sight of people shying away from leadership positions. It is even worse when Kenyans associate leadership with only politicians some of whom are in the positions by default. Leadership shy Kenyans are oblivious of the fact that there is business leadership, church leadership, Social group leadership, organizational leadership and many more. No wonder there are many junior employees in offices that hold top leadership positions in Churches and elsewhere.

Luckily, all types of leadership follow one simple concept – The power of influence – period. The challenge is what power you possess which makes you stand out as a potential leader, capable of influencing others to do as you wish. It does not matter whether you force them or make them comply willingly. Needless to venture into the intricate details, you can start becoming a leader today. Are you charismatic? Do you have any expertise which people recognize and eventually attracts them to you? Keep thinking about the others. Work on becoming the best using whatever power of influence that you are endowed with. You will certainly end up somewhere.

Mwangi Wanjumbi (Newtimes Newsletter Editor)
more @ http://www.newtimesconsultants.com

In this situation, I could not make any move until I waited for the natural adjustment, which luckily occurred immediately after the mist had evaporated in the hot air. The next thing was the experience of feeling like I had suddenly slipped into an oven. This was perhaps a natural reaction towards moving from the car’s very cool air conditioned environment, to the overly hostile temperature prevailing in the outside.

Bearing this recollection in mind, I am still coming to terms with recent reports to the effect that the Sahara Desert has been very fast encroaching Equatorial Africa. Northern Nigeria is slowly becoming part of the Sahara Desert. Soon, the renowned Congo Forest may be no more. In fact, it appears that Mother Nature cannot any more cope with man’s foolish efforts of destroying his own habitat.

Ironically, we are facing the same situation here at home. Full grown men and women have waged a political war against restoration of the Mau forest. This forest became a victim of the very chronic disease that has been persistently afflicting many Kenyans known as ‘grabiosis.’ 

When there were seemingly no more plots to grab in Nairobi and other main towns, the leadership of those days turned towards empowering their own through desecration of the Mau Forest. The custodians of our national resources took the issue of this forest for granted. They assumed that harnessing of national water resources was a natural occurrence just like night follows day and vise versa. They never at any one time thought of the repercussions of the subsequent mismanagement, to the national water table. By the way, were we not recently told that Mombasa City may be no more in only 20 years?

Upon careful consideration of the underling issues, this appears to be possible if you can reason with me. But first, basic science indicates that 75% of the human body is made up of water. It is no wonder then that a dead body immediately shrinks into a very small size within only a matter of days.

Right now, our water requirements especially in Nairobi are substantially being acquired from underground borehole resources. Notably, this situation can only be sustainable in the short term as man attempts to survive longer in the fight against his own environment. But, does anybody ever think about the repercussions?

Like a dead body’s loss of water, the earth’s water table is continually being depleted. This effectively means that the earth’s surface will continually set at lower levels. In fact, one does not need to be a scientist to see that, loss of this underground water mass without constant replenishment from rainwater especially, will eventually give in to this sinking of the ground’s surface.  And as this surface sinks, the lowest points on the land mass will naturally become part of the sea.

Notably, the sea will always be replenishing its water resources through convectional rains. So, as the sea retains or even heightens its levels, the adjacent land mass will be sinking. No wonder, Mombasa City and others could be history in the next 20 years.

Meanwhile, I will not be cowed by anybody who thinks that my sometimes strategic or critical views could be radical or controversial. In any case, Professor Wangari Mathaai has since the early 80’s been warning us about the dangers of not conserving our environment. We are now in the thick of things. As a whole nation, we are facing the consequences of ignoring the Professor’s warnings.

We are going through dark moments in the nation. Our national economy will now be hard hit by reduced hydro electric power generation, which has led to the ongoing electricity rationing. Many jobs will be lost especially in the informal sector which cannot sustain idle employees especially during the rationing periods. Cost of producing goods and services will likewise skyrocket as businesses turn to the more expensive alternative sources of energy, the foremost being diesel generators. Besides, businesses will be producing below their performance potentials.

Sadly, when business performance slackens, the national tax revenue equally reduces. The government will naturally not meet its obligations as outlined in the current and probably future national budgets.

Food security is likewise threatened. Without rains, there will be little food produced even for national consumption. A country without food for its nationals is one whose peace and stability is naturally threatened.

Livestock production is at the moment at an all time low. Therefore, the destruction of Mau Forest presents a grave situation to the very livelihood and peaceful continuity of our nation.

Like was the case during my trip to Dubai, we are now experiencing the early warnings of desertification, which could gradually set in. Sadly, a list of the presumed grabbers of Mau Forest comprises of a huge majority of people who are well educated. Led by insatiable greed, these people decided to care only for their own, rather than national interests.

This therefore, leaves us with the inevitable conclusion that continued politicking about reforestation of the Mau should from now on be treated as a threat to our own national security. We should not any more continue annoying Mother Nature through politicking on this national resource. Indeed, no efforts should be spared  spared in reclaiming the Mau Forest.

 Mwangi Wanjumbi is the Managing Consultant and Chief Trainer of Newtimes Business Solutions
www.newtimesconsultants.com

One of the foremost concepts of entrepreneurship is that for every opportunity, there is a threat. Likewise for every threat, there is an opportunity. This cannot be demonstrated better than the current upsurge in threats to life and property that is now continually being experienced by innocent Kenyans, through the mobile phone.

This mobile has revolutionalized not only the way we communicate with our loved ones but also the way we do business. To that extent, the mobile phone has become a necessity in our lives.  Unfortunately, the other side of the coin is not good news for the majority. The main problem however is the extent to which the mobile is used negatively.

This telecommunication gadget has in fact become a tool of terror and extortion.  It has particularly provided a save avenue for Kenyan criminals and buries who derive pleasure in creating unwarranted fear to fellow citizens and residents as well.  This situation may sadly continue to escalate all the more, especially with reduced prices of these mobile phones. Notably, duty on the same was reduced through the recently presented budget for 2009/10.

As you read this piece, an assistant minister is in great fear having been threatened with harm that may even be extended to her immediate family, as has been reported in the media. Even this writer has not been spared. In the last two weeks or so, he has been receiving serious threats to his life through text messages as well as anonymous mobile telephone calls. Probably this has resulted from his firm stand on topical issues that are bedeviling the Kenyan Society. His dislike and outspokenness on poor leadership in whatever situation as well as escalation of negative behaviors, which develop into fully entrenched cultures is also not a secret and could also form a basis of the threats.

 Sadly, those who threaten others through anonymous calls and short messages pose as if they are adherents of sometimes ruthless underground movements such as Mungiki, Sabaots Kamjesh and others whose activities are well in the public domain. Of course, the said groups are sometimes innocent but only used by crooked Kenyans for reasons which include evening-out scores arising out of disagreements occurring even in social forums. But for how long should these mobile phones be used to terrorize Kenyans?

All efforts should be put in place to alleviate the situation. The mobile telecommunications firms especially should from now on be held accountable for misuse of the mobile phones either through anonymous short messages or telephone calls. In fact, when mobile phones and lines used to be acquired at a price of 6 digits, all mobile phone owners in this country were known by their full identities. There would be hardly any opportunities of threats or harassments of whatever kind. The caller would in any case get to be known almost immediately.

Admittedly, the situation has over the years changed to that of mass sales, especially with the advent of continued liberalization of the telecommunications sector. The process of acquiring a mobile telephone line is just too liberal. Even criminals who are supposed to be undergoing rehabilitation in jails own mobile phones these days. Likewise, children requiring parental guidance on ownership and usage of the phones have nothing preventing them from exercising the free for all right of owning the mobile phone. It is no wonder then that social moral standards continue deteriorating by the day.

The Government needs to now take a whip to effectively ensure all owners of mobile phones are known by their full identities. It may not be necessary for the government to seek legislative mandate when many of its nationals are living in fear of death, threats and extortions. Each Mobile phone company should have the full data bank of all their subscribers. Underage children on the other hand should only acquire mobile phones with the full knowledge and support of their parents especially with regard to identification. It is the parents who will therefore be answerable for the children’s misdeeds. This may by coincidence encourage and therefore lead to a higher degree of parentage than has been the case.

 Meanwhile, the mobile phone companies will not be doing Kenyans any favours. They have a social responsibility of safeguarding the masses from an errant few. The companies should no longer therefore assume a right to doing business at whatever risk to Kenyans.  As a beginning, the companies need to give some time frame within which Kenyans should register all their existing lines. After expiry of this time, all unregistered lines will need to be initially blocked from communicating and eventually disconnected if still not compliant.

These measures will not only reduce the levels of continuing crime but also unwarranted threats to peace loving Kenyans. The Government and the mobile phone companies indeed owe Kenyans a duty of protection from unwarranted threats aimed at destabilizing their peace.

Mwangi Wanjumbi is the Managing Consultant and Chief Trainer of Newtimes Business Solutions

NOO
About two weeks since dispatching the piece to the daily press (on 26th June 2009), the Head of State ordered Mobile Phone firms to immediately register all their subscribers. Notably, I have not seen this piece published in the media or have you?

As the adage says “Your attitude determines your altitude.” I am tempted to imagine that this adage applies to Kenyan CEOs more than ever before. Right now, many of them are closing their fingers and waiting to see the trend of the economy. Worse still, we were just coming out of the woods after being slowed down by political crises of 2008. In the meantime, there are neither new investments nor even commitments in most organizations. Some have cut down on any expenditure that relates to any non core activities. Others, as we have learnt have already started retrenching staff aiming to reduce spending.

Indeed, most CEOs are seemingly trembling in FEAR and are at the same time unsure of what is likely to happen to organizational performance, which determines continuity of requisite contracts. But, as Brian Tracy puts it, fear is confronted with courage, a step at a time. Do not get cowed by the situation. FEAR is in any case said to be FALSE EVIDENCE APPEARING REAL. We need to realize that every threat corresponds with opportunities and vise versa. In death for example, there is business for the morgue and hearse services. As dry weather spells doom to majority, it is big-time business for water venders and borehole owners particularly in the City. Strategy concepts indicate that business MUST continue successively in both good and bad times. Let us all embrace strategic thinking rather than adopt a wait and see attitude. Indeed, we must refuse to be victims of FEAR. In any case, are we not players in the same economy that we are leaving in the hands of others and not our own?

 Even, my good friend Mungai Kihanya has branded himself in his own name not only in writing but also as a business entity. “I am fully accountable for whatever happens in what I do,” he recently insinuated. At your personal level, you are the chief strategist of your life. You reap the full benefits of your successes. You will also suffer the consequences of your failed actions. Notably, it is actions that fail but never the person.

In the International perspective, the rise and rise of Rwanda is now synonymous with President Paul Kagame. Even today, it is hard to talk about Singapore without mention of the great contribution and particularly the benevolence of Li Kwang Yu, the leader who fast-tracked the country towards becoming an Asian Tiger. Communism in Cuba on the other hand has been held together by Fidel Castro. Upon his exit, cracks in communism are now visible. It is just a matter of time before the full collapse becomes a reality.

Here, at home, we are constantly referring to The President and Prime Minister to guide us out of the tribulations that the country has been experiencing. My worry is that when we put the leadership responsibility of this country in the hands of two people, who is to blame if we continue sinking? Of course, one must have bigger share of responsibility than the other. In any case, when things are good, each of them would want to claim the credit. When things hit the wall, will it be a blame game? We have of course witnessed it all.

 But, what I am driving at is that there can be no shared responsibility of leading a country just as it impossible in leading a business entity. The buck must always rest somewhere whenever things go wrong. The credit must also rest somewhere when things get right. This coalition business is therefore the undoing of this country and is only serving interests of a few individuals. It is actually the excuse that our ‘Leaders’ will give for driving the country to a halt as they once again ask for votes in just about 3 years time. I hope and pray that ordinary Kenyans who are sadly the majority in this country will NOT once again fall into this trap of being made to keep going round in circles.

 Meanwhile, pawns are essentially sacrificed to safeguard the King as well as the Queen, in a game of chess. Whether, we will continue being pawns in the political game that determines our personal, organizational and overall national destiny will entirely depend on us. We indeed have power to choose our own destiny through electing leaders who will continually realize that they are accountable to us. In any case, does this nation not belong to all of us collectively?

Kenyans need to momentarily forget about the National Budget which has seemingly focused towards rejuvenation of the rural economy. Never mind that we may not have structures that are able to support heavy financial outlays in the constituencies, especially through the Constituency Development Funds – CDFs.

Instead, let us focus on tiny Migingo Island whose very obvious ownership is now subject to determination. The turn of events in this tiny island or rock as some may call it is an indication of serious erosion of our Nationhood. Nationhood in this context is about what makes Kenyans to actually be Kenyans. What in other words does it take one to be a Kenyan today?

 Somebody should help me. While in a recent workshop with a group of some 12 well educated Kenyans, I sought to know where I could get materials on our National Anthem. This became a tall order and serious challenge to all. One consultant volunteered that he struggled hard to get one. He actually ventured from bookshop to bookshop but without success. He only succeeded through acquiring an audio/music CD which he obtained from a high end music shop in town.

 Further discussions indicated that not many of the teammates could recite even one stanza of the three that have been used prominently. It did not matter whether in Kiswahili or English language. We were indeed all ashamed of what our country has become. Eventually, I sought help from the net where I surprisingly got the anthem in both Kiswahili and English.

Meanwhile, another teammate in the same group recounted how she was shocked upon visiting Singapore, one of the Asian Tigers. Interestingly, the assigned tour guide knew everything about their country. He could mention the ministers’ names and their ministries with ease. He elaborated on the culture of the country, the vision of the country, the values, the heritage and many more details that were astonishing, especially coming from a tour guide. To crown it all, he recited their national anthem, a requirement for all nationals, to the amazed group of Kenyans.

Perhaps ignorance of our national anthem could be the undoing of Kenya as a nation. In a united nation, the national anthem is the thread that binds one national with the other especially once the values outlined are embraced and practiced as a way of life. This in turn binds the whole nation together.

According to 123independenceday.com, this national song seeks special prayers and blessings from God, the creator of this universe to bless the land of Kenya and defend it from any foreign attack. Emphasis is laid on unity, peace and liberty not only within the country but also with the neighboring countries. This national song further emphasizes that with due hard work and honest perseverance, the nation can achieve great heights of success in the long run.

Turning back to tiny Migingo Island, we are told that Kenyans comprise 80 percent of the population, the rest being Ugandans.  This contradicts with the reactions especially by National authorities which depict a Kenya that is loosing out on Nationhood. Many years ago Idi Amin, the then feared dictator of Uganda intimated that his country’s eastern boundary needed to be extended to as far as Naivasha. So, the whole of Rift Valley, Nyanza and Western Provinces were to be part of Uganda.

Kenyans woke up in arms to defend their country. There were huge fires ranging from Mombasa to Nakuru, Kisumu and even beyond. This time they were not burning properties of other nationals, secondary school dormitories or university property as is common today.  They were instead burning huge effigies of Idi Amin. The nation was united in defending its borders and its nationals wherever they were.

Today, the story is different. Everybody in Kenya is busy minding his/her affairs without caring about the bigger picture of the national interests. It does not matter whether it is politicians, public servants, business people, farmers or ordinary Kenyans going about their day to day affairs.

The situation is even turning from bad to worse for the country. Kenyans especially in the North Eastern Province are now and then being grabbed by gangs from the unruly Somalia. These goons are seeking to enrich themselves from ransom money, probably whenever unlucky in pirating activities. Suspicious tycoons from the same country have bought out two populated areas of Nairobi and are quickly infiltrating the leafy suburbs of the City. The effect is a demand induced inflationary trend in the property market.  What does this mean?

We have seemingly left even the sovereignty of our country at the control of all and sundry as long as money is changing hands. We have treated issues like Migingo Island to be inconsequential. What was the rational behind spending KES 140 million to prove what is clearly on record? Is it not ridiculous that even the Ugandan President personally confirmed that Migingo belongs to Kenya?

In order to avoid continued national malaise, we probably need to go back to our national anthem, analyze and embrace the values that it was meant to inculcate. Key of them is dwelling in unity as a country. Only then shall we start reclaiming our continually depreciating nationhood, whose space has sadly been taken up by ethnicity.

Mwangi Wanjumbi is the Managing Consultant and Chief Trainer of Newtimes Business Solutions

www.newtimesconsultants.com

Sometimes last year, I was in a business forum where a renowned peace crusader in the region asked the listeners to ignore our politicians and move on with the business of creating wealth and employment for the benefit of the country. “After all, we can afford to ignore this small group of only 210 Hon MPs and about 4,000 councilors, instead of allowing them to continue holding us hostage,” said the seemingly agitated peace maker. But can we actually afford to ignore this “small” group of Kenyans whose pronouncements only, are capable of bringing prosperity or war to the country?

Naturally, political leadership as well as legal statutes are key considerations that determine either success or failure of other national agendas. It follows therefore that the prevailing political situation at any time enables both local and international investors in making decisions on whether to invest or not in our country, as well as when and to what extent. When the moods of our leaders are tense and seemingly unpredictable in the foreseeable future, this spells doom for investments and business focus in the country. The country continually experiences an unhealthy situation where many key players in business decide to wait and see what will happen next. It is even more dangerous for a country where pertinent investment decisions and other national agendas are pegged on the moods of a few office holders, rather than the offices themselves.

A country in such situations is not likely to make any worthwhile national progress. Unfortunately, this appears to be the situation Kenya. In that realization then, no efforts should be spared in entrenching accountability in institutions through the constitutional making process, rather than leaving all authority to the office holders themselves.

Only when the latter observation is embraced and implemented will Brand Kenya Authority and other national image management interventions have a positive impact in the country. For now, all the efforts and respective institutions are accomplishing is ultimately keeping a few Kenyans in employment but without achievement of any worthwhile results.

Meanwhile, our electronic and print media is substantially to blame for the sorry situation that the country is continually experiencing. There are many positive things that are happening around the country. There are many business forums and workshops aimed at enabling Kenyans to focus their attention towards economic development, many of which are not considered newsworthy. The mainstream press particularly is more concerned with what is propagated by politicians across the country even when there is no value addition thus continually hurting the national brand.

Mwangi Wanjumbi is the Managing Consultant and Chief Trainer of Newtimes Business Solutions

http://www.newtimesconsultnts.com

Clean money; clean politics; and clean governmnt. These were the most noticeable words that I picked from Martha Karua as she made her case to Kenyans through an FM Radio Station recently. What we may not know is that Martha Karua may have unconsciously been responding to filling a gaping leadership gap.  I am tempted to relate Karua’s move to  athought provoking occurrence that not many Kenyans may have noticed or given much thought of, towards the end of 2008. 

Passengers travelling by bus from Bungoma (in Western Kenya) to Nairobi got a rude shock near Naivasha, when five of them turned into gangsters and commandeered of the vehicle. As one gangster drove the bus into the bushes, the other four embarked on emptying shocked passengers of money and other personal effects. 

One disturbed passenger did not take the ordeal lying down. Probably guided by his adrenalin, he sized up the gangsters and wrestled one of them to the floor. Other passengers gathered courage and joined this brave passenger in conquering the other three. Although the four gangsters escaped from the wrath of the now furious passengers, the gangster driver was not lucky. His life was quickly terminated by the now heroic passengers. 

Of interest, is the leadership skills demonstrated by this anonymous but overly courageous passenger. Notably, leadership comes in many forms. One unique form is situational leadership which was clearly exhibited by this heroic passenger. Many times you may have encountered accident scenes along our unusually accident prone roads. More often than not, the people who initially arrive at the scene stare helplessly at the situation. Then, out of the blue you notice an unusually enthusiastic person who takes charge of the situation. He/she pushes bystanders aside, checks the state of those injured and starts begging onlookers to help in taking the injured to hospital or at the least calls the police. 

Situational leadership does not call for prior preparation or pre–planning. It is instantaneous. The Naivasha case is certainly exciting. One key leadership trait is personal risk-taking in search of solutions to ongoing challenges. You take personal risks as you identify a task or mission requiring immediate attention. You inspire others into joining you in accomplishing the task at hand. The courageous gangster conquering passenger did exactly that as he tried to save his own skin and that of others. The other passengers promptly came to his aid.

 In Kenya, we are permanently encountering many desperate situations of poverty, corruption, greed, poor leadership and many other woes. When we notice these occurrences we seemingly ignore them and just move on. We disregard the fact that the same may end up destroying our future. Right now, the national leadership situation is in a sorry state. No Kenyan can tell where the country is headed. Not even the political leaders themselves. Besides, Kenyans are fed up with the current crop of leaders. 

Unfortunately, nobody has volunteered to take a personal risk and inspire Kenyans towards change. There are glaring signs which indicate that Kenyans are indeed ready to support anybody who promises to guide them towards a safe and bountiful future. A future filled with hope. That future is seemingly a tall order considering the nature of our current leaders. They are naturally tired of many years at the helm and therefore bankrupt of new ideas that are capable of changing national direction as Kenyans would so wish. 

This situation has left Kenya in an awkward state. Kenyan leadership needs injection of fresh blood. But where is the fresh blood? Like the heroic Naivasha passenger, Martha Karua may have taken the risk of changing course. She has refused to sink with the current crop of leaders, when that time comes. Karua may have in fact read the mood of Kenyans and realized their desperate need for new leadership direction. 

The Kenyan bus under the current leadership has actually lost momentum and direction. It is seemingly headed towards a troubled destiny. The drivers and conductors have turned into gangsters seeking to willingly destroy whatever little hope that Kenyans have for the future. This leaves the country is in dire need of a situational leader, who may not be associated with the injustices that have become the undoing of the Kenyan Nation.

Following her resignation, Hon Martha Karua has apparently joined Kenyans in experiencing the continuing leadership frustration. Whether Karua is the situational leader that Kenyans may have been craving for remains to be seen.

By Mwangi Wanjumbi
Managing Consultant and Chief Trainer of Newtimes Business Solutions.
http://www.newtimesconsultants.com