Democracy was initiated in kenya with the hopes of improving the welfare of the citizens but it has now turned into a plaque, perhaps even absolutism because, our elected leaders operate the government antipodal to democracy. Leaders obsessed with cultivating power and advancing their selfish interests and agendas have ignored the important tasks of deepening democracy and improving the circumstances of the citizens. Despite the establishment of constitutional democracy, our leaders continue to exercise power in unprincipled and pernicious ways, using the machinery of government to harass opponents while enriching themselves and their cronies. Our leaders are yet to acquire the mien or even the gravitas to advance and consolidate democratic ideals. A great majority of them are terminally corrupt, invertebrate and focus almost exclusively on cultivating power and amassing wealth, often at the expense of the democracy and the welfare of the citizens. Vastly diminished, perhaps pliant legislatures, and a hobbled and corrupt judiciary provide an optimal dictatorial impetus for bludgeoning executive to rule like monarchs and despots.Good governance can counteract the prevailing image of kenya governmen as paradigms of sloth and corruption. To provide good governance, our national and county leaders must modify their behavior and recalibrate their moral compasses to observe more consistently the rule of law and constraints on their powers. They must use their powers wisely and responsibly and should at all times be motivated not by conceit, self interest or hubris, but only by the desire for public good and national interest. They must also rescind efforts at personalizing government and give primacy to the needs and welfare of the citizens by whose authority and on whose behalf they hold and exercise their powers and authority. Governance in kenya will be significantly reformed and remarkably improved if leaders can pursue the following objectives: providing effective leadership, promoting accountability and transparency, treating opposition with respect, and revamping public institutions that anneal both good governance and the democratic process.unless this is realized we the 'citizens' will be forced to rise up and defend our dear nation from these corrupt leaders.we can't afford to sit back and look while 62% of our GNP is being controlled by 820 individual as the rest of our citizens languish in poverty.citizens have been reduced to slaves in the name of 'wage earners'.Its the high time, those in power start to practise equality else revolution is looming.
By Strive Masiyiwa A few weeks ago I went to the doctor. I will tell you what he said about my health at the end, but first read this: Twenty years ago, I arranged to meet a well-known British international businessman who invested a lot in Africa at the time. We agreed to meet for dinner at a leading hotel in London. After a good meeting, we started to walk out of the restaurant when he suddenly collapsed in the lobby. There was total pandemonium as they rushed to get medical assistance. Being London, an ambulance arrived in minutes. I jumped in the back with him as paramedics wrestled to keep him alive. He had had a heart attack and had to have triple bypass heart surgery. Sadly he died a few weeks later. He hadn't been sick and his sudden death surprised everyone. And yet as I reflected on it, and later discussed it with a doctor friend who knew him, I realized he was very laid back about his health despite having a hectic business life. Even during our dinner...
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