The authentic leader has love for people at heart of political strategy

Delegates during the official launch of the Building Bridges to a United Kenya Taskforce Report at the Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi on October 26, 2020. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

The speeches of the late President Daniel arap Moi had something about them–they were conversational and in their own way, inspirational.

He would give a formal written English speech, which seemed more directed to members of the diplomatic corps. Then he would get into the real speech in Swahili–unwritten, seemingly off-the-cuff but still carried weight that every line was to be taken seriously. During this second speech, his tone and posture would change. He would narrate experiences, address people directly and speak in a conversational yet presidential manner. This was the speech that Kenyans would wait for, and they would feel addressed.