The past week has had Kenyans glued to their television sets, tablets and mobile phones following live proceedings of the presidential election petition at the Supreme Court.
The manner in which the apex court managed the process was highly commendable. Notably, Kenya paraded to the entire global audiences how the electoral jurisprudence has progressed on to the path of maturity. This is in terms of respect and decorum from the Supreme Court bench comprising of the judges and the members of the bar, the lawyers representing their respective clients.
These events showed to the whole world that our electoral justice system has grown and matured.
The bench comprised of the seven eminent judges supported by a battery of legal, research technical and administrative support staff. On the hand were over 100 members of the bar with well over 200 of legal, research technical and administrative support.
The nation was treated to a whole gamut of advocacy charms. This ranged from spiralling eloquence to grandiloquent, lyrical, cultivated and down-to-earth advocacy. There is no doubt great world orators from past were watching from above the skies with great admiration and those living who followed the proceedings with gusto.
The credit goes to the judges, who, under the leadership of unpretentious and tactful Chief Justice Martha Koome and her deputy Philomena Mwilu, brought immense dignity and decorum to a highly charged dispute. As the proceedings were underway, social media peddlers dispatched distortion and trivialities.
The top court in its composition and wisdom never attempted to steal the limelight. That was left to the advocates to do their bidding in the short period they were given. Indeed the questions posed were adequately addressed in a professional manner befitting their legal training.
To paraphrase the words of American civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr, he opined that a genuine leader is moulder of consensus and not a searcher of the same.
Closer home Anti-apartheid hero and former South African President Nelson Mandela said leaders are like shepherds, they stay behind the flock, letting the most nimble go out ahead, whereupon the others follow, not realising that all along they are being directed from behind.
To understand the concept herein is an analysis on the lessons our political leaders should learn from the Supreme Court proceedings.
First, no matter the differences in opinion from your political competitor, there is no need to paint them in inflammatory language, abuses, contempt, vituperation and exaggerations. Focus on the relevant issues facing the electorate and avoid being personal.
Second, leaders must always catechize their own position while providing anecdote evidence to resolve electorate matters before catapulting them for public assessment. The representation of a specific area requires an objective approach.
Third, there is need to always maintain appropriate respect and decorum for the electoral process and fellow competitors, including within parties. The lesson to pick was that there were no skirmishes in court, even when verbal altercations went south. The show of incomparable restraint requires to be emulated across the political leadership.
Fourth, in leadership humour helps in dissipating tension among proponents. The proceedings from provided an apt example where there were carefully choreographed discourses between senior members of the bar, which required the intervention of the bench to the satisfaction of all litigants representatives.
Fifth, there comes a time when the button of leadership must be passed to the next generation. The proceedings once again presented an opportunity to showcase some of the most talented and adorned lawyers in the country. However their role was mainly mentorship and guidance. The background work was undertaken by mid-tier and upcoming advocates.
The amazing observation was that at crucial moments, the senior counsels turned to the younger lawyers to address questions on which direction the case was likely to turn. This should be emulated by leaders in nurturing young leaders, especially women, to address the elusive gender parity.
Finally, leadership requires a vast ally of knowledge in all spheres of life to enable address all the challenges facing society.
Dr Njau Gitu is an educator practicing as a governance and public policy adviser
@GNjauGitu
