We need to emulate independence leaders

I just finished reading David Goldsworthy’s biography of Tom Mboya. The book highlights four important features of Mboya’s public life. First, the man was incredibly driven. Many of his achievements that we know of took place while he was still in his twenties, including the beginning of the airlifts to the United States, trade union mobilisation, and his ascent to national independence politics. These achievements are even more remarkable if one considers that Mboya had to work under the restrictive world of colonialism.

Second, the man was a brilliant tactician. Despite his youth, he was able to lead the nascent trade union movement and repeatedly outfox the colonial administration and European immigrants in Kenya. Third, Mboya was a ruthless politician with his sights on power. To this end he was willing to make necessary compromises that advanced his ultimate goal to succeed Kenyatta. Finally, the man had a clear dream for Kenyan political, social and economic development. His interest in power was not for its own sake.