The Leader We Need

I recently heard an incredible story that stuck with me.

There’s a public primary school near my home in Nairobi, and for years, it was considered one of the worst. It served the poorest families, and anyone who could afford it sent their kids elsewhere. It was just another struggling school.

Then, a new headteacher arrived, and everything changed. Suddenly, the students were required to come to school clean and well-behaved. Fridays became tracksuit days, and a sense of order and pride took hold. Amazingly, the school’s performance improved dramatically. Parents who had previously sent their children to private schools began transferring them back to this transformed public school.

It just took one dedicated headteacher to make this happen. One person, who might never receive public recognition, achieved more for that community than any politician. We can’t quantify the impact of this teacher’s work: the improved well-being of families, the brighter futures for the children, the financial relief for parents, the boost in the children’s self-esteem, or even the potential reduction in crime. I truly believe that only God can fully reward this teacher’s dedication.

Friends, I’ve come to believe that Kenya’s future doesn’t depend on a “magical” president (Yes, everything rises and falls with leadership, but the leadership needed is at another lower level). Instead, it relies on ordinary people doing their jobs with excellence. Dedicated nurses, teachers who give their all to their students, honest police officers, reliable construction companies building sturdy roads, magistrates dispensing fair justice, responsible road users, and procurement officers ensuring value for taxpayer money.

That’s what we need. That’s the foundation of a strong society, and it will take time to build, not happen overnight. Why?

Because we often fail to celebrate these individuals unless their services directly benefit us. We may even see them as naive for not “playing the game.” We might think of a headteacher who doesn’t demand extra fees from parents as foolish, or a traffic police officer who doesn’t become wealthy through bribes as misguided, or a civil servant who doesn’t exploit their position for personal gain as a failure.

Ultimately, I think our biggest leadership challenge lies with us, the voters.