MOMANYI MAURICE: Dearth of responsible leaders a cause for concern

Leaders need to lead by example, be gentle, considerate and tolerant, to say the least.

However, it is quite unfortunate and disheartening that some of the people in authority have decided to be insensitive and reckless.

Some of the leaders in our country have been showing immature and utterly irresponsible behaviour, not minding the negative effects it will have on the people they lead.

Verbal exchanges and insults are the order of the day. You find a leader publicly attacking another, especially from a different political camp.

In most cases, the other would hit back, aiming to outdo their critic by sounding more harmful and foul.

The barbs they throw at each other are, however, baseless.

Further, some leaders have refused to tame their egos and engage in shameless physical confrontation with perceived detractors.

A recent example was when one MP slapped a contractor for allegedly not providing keys to a newly constructed classroom in his constituency.

One would wonder whether such a simple situation was meant to degenerate into a physical confrontation.

The MP was later charged with assault in a court of law.

Many other leaders take their positions to enrich themselves at the expense of service delivery to the people.

They manipulate financial figures to misrepresent expenditure, steal from public coffers and engage in all manner of questionable deals in their areas of jurisdiction.

Some could have been prosecuted, while others continue to enjoy impunity.

The list of unbecoming conduct by our leaders could go on, but good governance is what we need to grow our economy.

Edited by Kiilu Damaris