These leaders are a reflection of us

The latest cases of hate speech attributed to a bunch of politicians make for a worrying trend.

It once again reminds us that as a country, we have not learned our lessons. Going into next year’s election, we are like a people at the tip of a cliff, with the possibility of easily toppling over with a fatal thud.

This may ultimately usher our country into the league of Rwanda genocide scale of 1994. We will not get there by accident. We will be propelled to our waterloo by the very people we call leaders. The reckless leaders we voted in.

To accomplish these acts against humanity, we may by our own hands snap lives from our countrymen. All in the name of acquiring power or retaining it for ‘one of our own’.

These crop of leaders with restless wagging tongues are a reflection of our society. We are quick to condemn and bay for their blood, when they spit reckless remarks capable of setting us against each other and yet we give them audience and clap ourselves silly for them.

Whenever we get an opportunity to elect leaders, we go for them. They are our true representation. People get the leaders they deserve. On social media platforms, enlightened crop of young Kenyans are worse.

The tribal and hate mongering is alarming on social media. Our politics and tribalism is like Siamese twins joined at the hip. Any aspirant to earn our votes enters a pact with us, the electorate, to defend and protect our tribal king pin chief.

No one is guaranteed to be elected in central Kenya if he is opposed to President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Likewise in Nyanza, one must clip and hang on former premier Raila Odinga’s coat to win an election. The same is true in Rift Valley where the deputy president’s word is law politically.

So is true in all other parts where political hero worshipping matters more than ideology and political philosophy. The leaders we get represent the society we have.