We are expecting to get honey from flies under current leaders

In spite of the public scorn they often get, our elected leaders act with a lot of impunity. Yet, paradoxically, it’s the same citizens who spite politicians who scramble to receive the latter’s attention.

I joined some faithful last weekend to witness the ordination of five young men into priesthood at St Joseph the Worker Catholic Parish, Kangemi in Nairobi. 

As the journey to priesthood for each of the young men was read out, I got an insight that partially explains the dilemma on why we love the people we despise for their impunity. Few politicians are trained on how to make sound decisions.

The young priests have been trained for at least 10 years to help them understand their vision and mission as servant leaders. Their vocation is not discovered in motivation talks, in certificate of attendance workshops, sermons, secret revelations with miracle workers, counselling and career guidance professional sessions or anything like that.

Understanding both the desire to join priesthood and mission of a priest is collaborative work between the candidate and the religious group the young man joins. It takes years of patience, introspection and prayers to confirm to self that indeed this is the life one has chosen with full consciousness.

That the vocation is a long journey one chooses after years of self-doubt as well as self-confirmation, is reason to celebrate the moment of ordination to priesthood.

The goal of these years of learning is to have clarity of purpose in life, particularly as a spiritual leader. Put differently, it takes many years for the young men to understand their job description.

Prepared well

Does the long training mean they do not make mistakes once in ministry? No, they make mistakes. The difference is that many of them realise this and often seek reconciliation with the people they serve. Besides, their level of commitment to what they are called to do is considerably high. Their actions impact people’s lives and so they need to be prepared well.

Like priesthood, we also know all professions require specialised training for their members. Some, like doctors, take quite a long time before one is able to perform certain procedures.

Compare these with the political careerists. Granted, political science is a specialised area of study. But, a quick assessment of elected political leaders shows most of them have no background in political science.

Even for those who have degrees in the field, it is difficult to tell how their performance as political leaders is different from the others.

Like the young men who become leaders after ordination, once a person is elected to a public office, they immediately assume leadership roles. But, what training do they have?

Negative propaganda

Most elected leaders are mentored by a model senior politician. The science of political leadership depends on the experience, and perhaps the ‘book’ knowledge of the mentor.

A quick scan of the elected leaders in office shows there are those in office through high political drama and well-oiled negative propaganda.

Some lead because they are dreaded for the terror they are capable of unleashing to whoever opposes their style of leadership. But yes, these are the mentors of our next generation of leaders.

Some of the elected leaders hold a degree in one or other field. Is this sufficient to prepare one for such a noble duty as making critical decisions that affect hundreds, thousands or millions of people?

Leadership is an underestimated, yet important duty to self and others. Based on the kind of leaders we elect, we seem to act from the belief that leaders are chosen from a crop of candidates who present themselves for election.

Will it not be an eye opener if, say, one constituency or ward abstains from voting because there is no worthy candidate to lead?

Making legislative decisions requires both intellectual knowledge and personal aptitude to lead. We are expecting honey from flies.

Elected leaders need formal training on what entails leadership and management so that when in office they can deliver. Experience alone is not sufficient.

Leadership in elective offices particularly into county assemblies, Parliament and the Presidency requires a one-year minimum training on constitutionalism, discernment, management, service delivery and morals in handling fellow citizens. The Tanzanians call the latter utu.

Our leadership will continue to wobble since it is not formed on professional ethos and standards.

Dr Mokua is Executive Director – Jesuit Hakimani Centre