Politicians must be conscious of burden of leadership

During President Obama’s visit, he said two things about his connection with Kenya that caught my attention. Concerning the desire of the people of K’Ogelo to have him visit, President Obama expressed how he would have wished to, but could not because of his position as President of the United States of America.

With regard to the delay in visiting Kenya, the President revealed that he had been careful not to appear to play favourites too soon in his leadership. Whereas these may seem like ordinary, logical, and plausible reasons or even excuses, they represent a critical reality of leadership that many of us often miss — the burden of leadership. Leadership imposes on an individual certain demands that have the effect of drawing them from the ordinary pathways of life to the rigours of distinctive living.