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Time for generational change in Northern Kenya leadership

Time is of essence, and the need to put our very house in order is important.

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by ABDILATIF ADAN

News19 April 2021 - 14:50
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In Summary


•Age should not be a factor to determine the quality of leadership.

•However, the question is how long the generation I belong should have to wait before they can take up the button.  

Parliament Buildings.

So often, the political class refers to the youth that the future belongs and that they are the leaders of tomorrow. This phrase is also being altered to fit the bill today where some in the political class tell young people that they are the leaders of today.  Growing up in a small hamlet in Northern Kenya, I have keenly observed the leadership button is yet to be passed to a whole generation that had hoped to one day represent their people in elective seats. 

While age should not be a factor to determine the quality of leadership, the question is how long the generation I belong should have to wait before they can take up the button.  I have been involved in campaign since I was in primary school, but the same culprits are still around and still yearning to represent us in the various offices. My generation still sits on the fence.  I always see leadership as a relay game where the button is passed from one player to the other.  This game has some morals, while the entire teams takes part in the competition, it is not the same player who starts the race who finishes it off. At the end of the day, the team all wins. Unfortunately, the generation before is where the leadership in Northern Kenya is stuck.  This means it will be hard to finish the race and meaningfully attend to the needs of our people.

The question that begs an answer is what are the reasons behind the failure of young people are is to ascend to leadership positions in the North?  In my region, there are multiple reasons to explain this, but the major issue is hinged on the electoral finance which has made it impossible for young people to compete fairly with their seniors.  This has largely forced many young people to hang their boots in serving their people before they even make their debut.  Many young promising talents have fallen by the wayside as they don’t get the backing of the elders as elections largely swayed by the few not the many who vote.  This largely discourages many young people from contesting.  However, the real problem lies within the youth who are don’t support one of their own with the charisma to lead their people. In the larger North, youth voices are fragmented and rarely work towards the same objectives.  Our clan loyalties are stronger than our quest to install leadership that can change the face of this region that continues to suffer as the ‘Other Kenya’ continues to prosper.   The 2010 constitution has placed a golden opportunity in the hand of marginalized regions in the country but seems to be a wasted opportunity. The frustrations are evident in all the counties of Garissa, Wajir and Mandera.   It is time to re-assess the parameters we use to choose our leaders. The people of Northern Kenya can change course and front candidates who have the integrity to champion the region’s interests. 

As we approach the 2022 election, my generation has another chance to reverse the trend.  We can only weather the storm if we are prepared for it.  It is time to build alliances that transcend clan lines and built around unity of purpose.  It is times for budding politicians from the region to work together. They say you reap what you sow.  Elections are not won on election day; it all starts with how much energy you put before the day itself.   In my region, we have primaries that are even far important than the party primaries, it is time young people to strategize to influence the clan primaries.  We should not allow people to take this generation for granted.

Time is of essence, and the need to put our very house in order is important.  To our elders in the political class, the greatest of leaders is the one who should have a transition plan, it pains me to see that many of the seasoned political class don’t have plans to coach the next generation so that can take up leadership roles.  The underdevelopment and marginalization that has affected Northern Kenya clearly demonstrate that the region needs to front young and honest caliber of leaders.  We can only achieve much if we give a new crop of politicians the chance to serve the region’s interest in the institution of parliament.

Adan is a communications specialist

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