SAM'S SENSE: Leadership - The real test

Take a ride across the country and you will see it for yourself; mixed fortunes everywhere.

Some areas are better equipped for life than others. Some have better roads than others. Some constituencies have better schools than others. Even the price of land changes from ward to ward, depending on where opportunity lives.

Let’s go back to the Constitution; our true north in public affairs. Chapter six, Leadership and Integrity, Article 73, clause 1 b: The authority assigned to a state officer vests in them the responsibility to serve the people, rather than the power to rule them. Service not rule. 

And Article 73 2b adds that leaders are to be chosen for their personal integrity, competence and suitability and in elective offices, through free and fair elections.

Beautiful words. But what happens once leaders get into office?

Some choose to serve their political parties. Others serve the government of the day. Some serve their families and themselves. A few serve the people.

Yet, from time to time you will hear familiar cries: That “We have been marginalized. We have been left behind.” 

And the political class takes the stage, microphones in hand, to lament. 

They have examples ready, perfect excuses polished. They tell you they need one more term to “fix the historical injustices”.

They pick a side. They craft a narrative. They say, that the government of the day or previous regimes have always punished their region for their political stand. And before long, they sell you a saviour, the chosen one, anointed by power, groomed by a kingpin to rescue a people that supposedly cannot rise without them.

They talk of adversity: of roads undone, of schools neglected, of poverty unending. And it becomes a performance. A poverty parade. A deliberate publicity stunt, powered by social media outrage; just for political mileage. But to what end?

Let’s talk about accountability. Since 2004, every constituency in Kenya has been allocated millions through the Constituency Development Fund, amounting to more than Ksh.570 billion. Money meant to build classrooms, improve security and repair roads.

Since 2013, all 47 counties have had their own elected governments. In total, more than Ksh.4 trillion has been sent to counties. Yet, come election season, the same cries of marginalization. But, should that still be the excuse?

When politicians come to you with allegations and promises, remember, they owe you accountability. What have they done with their time in office? Because leadership was meant to be service not rule. Accountability! Not excuses.

In 2025, there is no excuse for a school to run without walls or doors in a constituency that has an NG-CDF kitty. No excuse for roads that vanish in the rain.

If there are MPs, have they pushed for resources?

If there are Governors, what have they done with what they received?

And yes, we know resources are scarce, but priorities matter.

Surely, a road serving hundreds must count for more than a longer motorcade.

It is time to replace hate and vendetta with honest conversations. To focus on solving our problems within the means we have.

Because in the end, it won’t matter how many viral videos or angry posts went up online.

What will matter is how many lives were saved. How many young minds were educated? How many children drank clean water? How many farmers got their produce to market – on time and in one piece?

That is the true measure of leadership.

And that’s my sense tonight.