This archive report was first published on 17 December 2019.
Published on December 17, 2019, by Kennedy Chesoli, a New York-based development economist and global policy expert.
Kenya's mediocre leadership and empty rhetoric have left the country reeling, with citizens fed up with the lack of progress and the failure of their leaders to address pressing issues.
King Kaka's hit song, 'Wajinga Nyinyi', has captured the mood of the nation, with its powerful lyrics and catchy melody elevating social consciousness and public anger towards politicians and their shenanigans to a new level.
The song effectively shifted public discourse from the President's Jamhuri Day speech on conflict of interest to failed promises and manipulated masses, highlighting the pain and anger that is real.
From dairy farmers pouring away their milk due to depressed prices and monopolistic exploitation by large sector players to corruption cases against a son of Dr Evans Kidero's predecessor failing to take off due to 'missing police files', the evidence of mediocre leadership is mounting.
The President's own admission that duty bearers are mediocre is a stark reminder of the problem, and the fact that he has not decisively fired anyone despite being confronted with irrefutable evidence is a cause for concern.
The government's reward of mediocrity is evident in the Sh11 billion spent on a BBI report that everybody agrees is shallow and didn't go far enough, yet the mandate of the task force has been renewed and extended.
Meanwhile, our neighbours are fine-tuning their systems of economic growth and inclusive development, with Rwanda building East Africa's largest airport and Tanzania beating us on the SGR and the oil pipeline.
It is time for Kenya to learn from its neighbours and take decisive action to address the pressing issues that are hurting the country.
Perhaps King Kaka is right: we are fools for tolerating mediocrity and being persuaded by political nonsense.
