To be great, we must embrace merit and elect honest leaders

Police control the crowd as Nairobi residents queue at Loita street, parking bay as they waited to nominate their preferred candidates to contest in the August 9 polls. [Jenipher Wachie, Standard]

As the August 9 elections approach, we must reflect on the state of the nation and the challenges facing our future. But why do citizens vote? To have a better, greater Kenya through democratic, meritocratic governance and national moral values.

Democracy is desirable in itself. This simply means we face two fundamental issues: The matter of legitimacy in the sense that those in leadership have to govern with broad consent of the people and should have technical competencies to find solutions to challenges now and in future. Solution-centric management is the demand of the moment.