The progress of nations is normally rated against certain universal economic indicators. The more vibrant or solid a nation’s economy is, the more progressive it is considered to be. With such emphasis on economic progress, many other equally crucial indicators of the pulse of nations are accorded casual attention or forgotten altogether. Here, I have in mind the ‘personality’ of a nation, and in particular, that of Kenya.
Quite often, you come across a foreigner describing Kenyans as warm and friendly. We know of foreigners who have worked in Kenya and found an excuse to stay on. The favourable weather aside, the general good-naturedness of Kenyans is a strong attribute of Brand Kenya and the contents of her ‘soul’. And talking of nations and souls, there is a school of thought whose prominence is on the rise that compares statecraft and what is increasingly being referred to as ‘soulcraft’.
Dearth of compassion
In his book Statecraft as Soulcraft, George F Will decries the dearth of compassion and good-naturedness as he extols the need to embellish statecraft through imbuing humane attributes to the ‘personae’ of states.This personae is the sum total of the people’s social and political character. It is that interrelationship that any leadership must seek to harness and exploit to assemble national character, itself, a prerequisite for social progress.
From character emanates a nation’s soul. It is this soul that conveys a country’s real essence. Just as human beings need spirituality to feed the soul, so do countries need certain traits to build a sense of ambience, presenceand posture. But how can wananchi contribute towardsenhancing Kenya’s national brand, and create a soul and a DNA? Let me share a few thoughts on this subject.
A good place to start is to interrogate values that have been espoused by the top leadership since independence. Kenya’s founding president, the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, adopted harambee (Kiswahili for pulling together, a clarion call to pull together. A fledgling nation-state could not afford disparate voices as it sought to build a foundation for social, economic and political takeoff. President Moi preached peace, love and unity.
Our immediate former Head of State stood for work and economic prosperity while President Uhuru Kenyatta has so far invested heavily in breaking the ethnic barriers that have long dogged Kenya’s cohesion agenda. Today, from sports to academia, Kenyans have embarked on a journey of self-discovery, both as individuals and as citizens of Kenya.
Our exploits in different areas are well known and respected internationally, top among them our perennial victory in long distance athletics. The recent triumph in the Berlin Marathon by Eliud Kipchoge and Gladys Cherono is part of a long tradition and legacy that has popularised this country around the world.
Akin to the use of Kiswahili as a dignifying language that brought together Tanzanians as envisaged by former president the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, athletics and sports play a major unifying and branding role. Clearly, a nation needs certain shared and deeply ingrained emblems for its perpetuation.
Another aspect that identifies Kenyans is the citizens’work ethic and industriousness, both at home and overseas. Our human capital is renowned globally for its high value delivery. That is why various Kenyan professionals are on demand abroad. Our nurses, for example, are very marketable in both America and the United Kingdom. Individual Kenyans are also excelling exceedingly well in all manner of fields. The spirit and feeling produced by this dynamism enriches the notion of Kenya being first among equals in Africa.
Apart from human resources, Kenyans possess noticeable business acumen both in the region and within the continent. To the majority, the ideal leader is the one who will protect their valued identity and protect the populace from potential destruction or needless risks. This has contributed a great deal in creating national cohesion, as money does not react to ethnicity – only to bad politics.
Ultimately, it is about protecting the public good. This call to social hygiene does not negate the spirit of greater freedoms we as Kenyans enjoy today. For Kenya to proceed apace towards a solid national character strengthened by individual actions, worldviews and beliefs that are synchronised with our national values. Kenya’s national edifice must be built uniformly with blocks that draw their spirit and commitment to a singular horizon with regard to character and outlook.
Ms Chege is the Murang’a County Woman Representative
