Why Ruto's election victory has not translated into satisfactory governance

President William Ruto during Jamhuri Day celebrations at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi, on December 12. 2024. [File, Standard]

Theodore M Hesburgh once said, "The very essence of leadership is that you have to have vision. You can't blow an uncertain trumpet." Hesburgh's assertion brings me to the conclusion that the reason the Kenya Kwanza government has been wavering is that while they had a strategy to win the 2022 elections, they seemingly lacked a concrete vision (plan). This is why they have been blowing unknown 'trumpets', tossing the country here and there, and exploring new ways of surviving the tides they should have foreseen and planned for before winning the 2022 election.

Winning an election with a great strategy doesn't necessarily translate into satisfactory governance. A good political strategy without a plan leads to deficient governance. However, when paired with a well-intentioned ideology and a solid plan, it heralds transformative leadership. That is why we must not let an election 'winning' strategy cloud our judgment again.