Professionals should change tack in quest for county roles

By Kamotho Waiganjo

In the last two months since the promulgation of the new Constitution, I have attended numerous county meetings. Most have been called by professionals while others have been organised jointly by professionals and politicians.

There is no doubt there exists a generous component of mutual suspicion between politicians and professionals, with the latter expressing mistrust of the political class, who they allege have been responsible for ruining the country. The politicians on the other hand are generally contemptuous of the professionals, who they believe are no more than seminar room elites who lack connection with reality. I consider myself more a professional than a politician and wish to share a few thoughts with my colleagues on how we can engage in the new political dispensation.

First, we must realise entry into leadership in the counties will be through political processes. This will either be through election into the county assemblies or nomination into the county cabinets.

To find our way into either of these seats of county leadership will require we enter into the arena of competitive politics, either as candidates or supporters of candidates. Nothing will be handed to us on a silver platter just because we are successful or development oriented or possess lengthy records of integrity.

Second, we need to have an ongoing involvement with our counties. Many of us come from rural areas where we remain only in name. The only time we are seen there is when our SUVs turn up for the annual Christmas or New Year festivities. Even then, we hardly spend a night because of our concerns about our children’s health, security and pestering relatives and old friends. Yet we expect the same citizenry to honour us with their votes come 2012.

If we are to deserve a second look in 2012, let us start investing time and resources, and I am not talking handouts, in the grassroots now.

Third, we need to be less dismissive of the grassroots political leadership. I have heard demeaning things said about councillors and their capacity to lead the new counties. I can comfortably predict many of these kanjuras will find themselves in the county assemblies.

I therefore believe professionals who truly care for the emancipation of their regions should spend more time capacity building the existing grassroots leadership so that it incorporates the demands and ethos of the new era; pouring scorn may be interesting, but not useful.

Finally, leadership is not always about positions, it is also about influence. It is not necessary that we be in political office to impact policy and programmes in our counties.

Some of us will need to do backroom work for the political leadership. Some of us will be their fundraisers. Some will be their trusted advisors.

All this requires strategic positioning now. Bottom-line, we must covenant to be a part of redefining the new Kenya; not just critics of others’ efforts.

The writer is an advocate of the High Court of Kenya