Of the Rugby Sevens glory and the basics leaders can’t master

Wanyonyi Wambilyanga

Kenya is in confusion. When one star rises, 10 others are dimmed. But this is not even the biggest problem; coming out of the delirium is. If you watch rugby (or have heard of it), there may be lessons you might see in the game for Kenyan leaders.

After post-election violence, which ended early last year, the country’s dented image internationally was recently redeemed, albeit temporarily, when Kenya finished the IRB Rugby Sevens circuit at position six. This was not all; our very own Collins Injera emerged the top scorer of the circuit’s eight tournaments with 42 tries.

The Mwamba sensation scored seven tries on the first round in Dubai and he capped his glory with seven tries in Edinburgh, Scotland, last week. He and his brother, Humphrey Kayange, made the list of the six best players of the circuit. It was all glory and Prime Minister Raila Odinga, during the Madaraka Day celebrations, acknowledged the effort of the Shujaa boys.

But the political class may have missed the vital lesson the rugby team displayed on their way to victory. Teamwork is key to achievement, and that the captain always leads from the front.

The suave display by individual Shujaa players transformed into a winning outfit collectively. Despite the knowledge that he could increase his try tally, Injera, in the match against England, gave the ball, on the try line, to Biko Adema who was better placed to score. In that match, Kenya won by the margin of a single try.

It was sometimes scrum versus scum, brain versus brawn. But as muscle strained in the fields and gymnasiums, personal sacrifice had to be made amid strict discipline.

Led from the front

The political class could have missed the match, as no one seems to have learnt anything, save for the few who may have heard of the scores. That the coach, Benjamin Ayimba, and captain Kayange have led from the front, is obvious. And the two have shown consistency all through.

In Government, the two principals seem to either have lost control of their cantankerous members or are lost in wonderland. In the wake of the rugby glory, two Kenyan delegations headed to Geneva, Switzerland, to defend one country’s case against Prof Philip Alston’s report on extra-judicial killings. Initially, the delegates were from one side of the coalition, but when two others came in, they did not read from the same script. ODM said they would support the report recommending radical reforms in the police force and the Judiciary. The PNU side said the report was to be rubbished.

More scams than scrums

Any rugby player knows that one side of the scrum cannot be pushing forward while the other is wheeling backwards. Flankers can’t be sweating their muscles out for a scrumhalf who kicks the ball into the opponent’s feet. The Kenyan coalition, it seems, know more about scams than scrums.

Until the eve of the Geneva presentation, the two delegations were at loggerheads and only reached consensus on the day of the meeting.

Where were the captains? Was there deliberate effort to forestall the show? Definitely not. Both sides stood their ground to the peril of the country’s image. But the game did not end in Geneva.

Justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo, one of the Geneva players, has loudly promised a draft constitution by November. In case Kenyans have forgotten, that is the umpteenth constitutional reform promise from the Kibaki team. While both sides agree on need for the review, they are squabbling on the way forward.

The scheduled 2012 General Election is fast approaching, and something drastic needs to be done if a national catastrophe is to be avoided. Justice Johann Kriegler knew what he was saying when he said: "What you experienced in 2007 would be child’s play."

Despite early warnings that a peaceful general election will be pegged on implementation of Agenda Four of the (Kofi) Annan Accord that brought violence to an end, those charged with steering it have dropped the ball. The visit to Geneva cost the taxpayer millions, which will go down the drain if it generates nothing. Back home, the Committee of Experts on Constitution Review have to buy rubber stamps and tea from their pockets since they have not been allocated money.

But it is not just the politicians. Harambee Stars players were turned to spectators in their own training grounds on a night Nigeria, the team they play today in the African Cup/World Cup qualifiers, trounced one-time World Cup champions France.

Delayed pay

The players were up in arms over delayed pay. They left for Nigeria without coach Antoine Hey, whose departure was delayed over a salary dispute.

Before that, when Nigeria held Ireland to a draw in Europe, the Stars were wriggling in mire after beating local side Gor Mahia following their loss to KCB. Is this anything close to leadership? Your bet is as good as mine.

The writer is a sub editor with The Standard, Weekend Editions.

fwanyonyi@eastandard.net