Youth, don't be quick to anger, vet all leaders

Mombasa youths entertain themselves with music during a political rally held by Mombasa County Governor aspirant, Suleiman Shahbal at Kadongo in Mombasa. [Omondi Onyango,Standard]

In the past, populism rode on fear and rage. Take the Roman Republic, for example. By the first century BC, it had ruled over millions of people along the Mediterranean’s shores for four centuries. Although it wasn’t a flawless democracy, citizens had a greater say in government.

But times were hard — decades of economic downturn, threats from the Middle East and political infighting had left them weary of their “uncaring” government. They wanted someone to seize control and shake up the Senate’s business-as-usual mindset.