This archive report was first published on 22 November 2019.
On November 22, 2019, Alice Wairimu Nderitu, a renowned author and expert on bridging ethnic divides, shared her insights on what makes a good politician.
According to Nderitu, a good politician is one who directly challenges ethnicist, extremist, and xenophobic narratives in their campaigns. They build a narrative on sound principles that are translatable into political commitment and action.
Many divided societies lack alternative voices of leadership that are not tied to a particular narrow group, but are rather focused on promoting and valuing diversity. A good politician makes their objective of changing politics for the better a part of everyday practice, not just a segment of work they do for two hours in a week.
When people relate to each other better in public transport, in markets, and in their day-to-day lives, it is a sign that a good politician is doing their job well.
However, building bridges between divided communities is not an easy task. Sometimes, the separation is based on skin colour, which is a consequence of colonial policies that result in both spatial and social segregation.
But even in the face of separation, there are opportunities for meaningful interaction and breaking down myths and stereotypes. A good politician appreciates people's different backgrounds and circumstances and draws up plans to create economic and educational opportunities, as well as equal access to resources.
They tackle inequalities and develop positive relationships between people from different ethnic and religious backgrounds by involving them in joint community activities. If elected, a good politician will build or improve trust in institutions, open them up to public scrutiny, and ensure they act fairly in their treatment of people regardless of their skin colour and/or ethnic background.
Ultimately, a good politician is one who speaks consistently about a common vision of belonging for all communities and lets people know what their shared sense of contribution to this vision is.
