TALKING POINT
Leadership Tips From Polycarp Igathe ’ s Political Style
By Boniface Ngahu
When Polycarp Igathe threw his hat in the Nairobi gubernatorial race for August 2022 , many dismissed him as not a serious candidate . Others indicated that he is a corporate type who is not cut out for politics because he resigned as deputy governor for Governor Mike Sonko in January 2018 shortly after 2017 elections . They asked , how will he deal with City Fathers who he was unable to deal with as deputy governor when we gave him a chance ?
Recently I listened to him speaking on a radio station and realized he has serious political ambition when he explained that when was working for one of the fuel companies they were shortchanged in a land sale by people who were politically connected . He also argues that he has Political and Nairobi Leadership experience from deputizing SONKO . It was at that point when he decided to get into politics at some point . Polycarp was also misunderstood by Nairobi Voters because of being regarded as a State House Project since his candidature was rumored to have been hatched in the house on the Hill .
He Ditched Corporate Like Politics for A Streetwise Style Similar to Eating own dog Food
Soon after announcing his candidature for the sit , he ditched corporate like politics for a streetwise style which seems to come straight from Coca-Cola sales ideology of eating your own dog food . His Prolife indicates that he once worked for Coca-Cola at the turn of the century . The style caught the voter ’ s attention to a point of becoming a trending topic in social media with memes joking about the new kid on the block .
Some of them implied that he is a miracle worker who ensures that by the time you get home you find that he has made dinner and he has already helped the young ones with homework . I saw ladies posting WhatsApp updates wondering what Polycarp was up to on some specific days so that he helps them with babysitting .
Grassroot Politics redefined
The guy has also redefined grassroot politics by being very connected to the common man . He is reported to have toured some of the most dangerous and ‘ dingy ’ parts of Nairobi , helping people with washing cars , clothes , fetching water on donkey carts and basically doing odd jobs . It reminds us of a certain Nairobi MP who was photographed helping market women commonly referred to as mama mboga by carrying a baby on his back .
Social Connection Generates News including Fake stories For Fun
Apart from assisting people with odd jobs he is also reported to have gained rapport by joining people socially hanging out with them in odd places . It is reported that he has been seen doing things that average Kenyans are associated with like going against warning signs put up by authorities and property owners . He hangs out in low class social joints commonly referred to as mama pima and miraa ( Khat ) chewing dens . The most interesting thing is that some of the stories belong to the fake news department for fun .
The Kenyan-ness idea seem to have won many hearts and entertained Kenyans . It also appears that Kenyans were looking for freshness in politicians and they were bored with usual theatrics . There is a common reference to corporate types being referred to as “ watu wa suti ”, Swahili for people who wear suits . This reference is usually said with a negative tone to indicate that the person operates from the ivory towers characterized by lack of practicality . When such a person dramatically turns the perception around , rolls up his sleeves and gets down to work it ’ s normally considered a pleasant surprise which shuts down the haters . This is what Polycarp has done with the skill of a genius personal branding strategist .
Polycarp Speaks Fluently in Several Local Languages including Kikuyu and Kamba
I have seen and heard him speak in various vernacular media stations where he easily breaks into a tune in religious , local and sometimes traditional songs . He explained that he schooled somewhere near the Eastern side of Kenya where the Kamba people reside . Speaking those languages makes him to look like an authentic leader and a normal Kenyan who has interest in people and not an ivory tower bourgeois . Singing also shows a high level of entertainment skills which also indicate that one is multi-talented .
He Inspires Hope and Mystery By How he Changes Jobs Effortlessly
One of the Memes was stating that when you give him a job he doesn ’ t work because he is busy browsing the internet for new job opportunities . This was based on his ability to effortlessly change jobs in the corporate scene . In a market where jobs are scarce , it raises curiosity and mystery when someone vacates a dream job and gets head hunted within a short time . It also indicates a strong personal brand that speaks for itself .
That ability to get any job is a skill set that many had not interpreted to mean it also easy for someone to talk to voters and win their support . Before Polycarp stated campaigning Johnson Sakaja was leading opinion polls . Interestingly , Senator Sakaja is rumored to be also a product of State House meaning that when the so called “ deep state ” ask the question , in whose hands are we safe ? There are two “ safe ” pair hands vying for governor of Nairobi position .
Boniface Ngahu is a seasoned marketing research expert and runs the Talking Point column in Marketing Africa magazine . He is the Marketing Director of SBO Research . You can commune with him on this or related matters via email at : Boniface @ sboresearch . co . ke .
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