and barely fit in . Why ?
Private practice is far removed from the running of Government policies and will only interact with government functionaries providing their specific kind of services . The private sector is biased against Government offering and this makes a double ignorance highway for the Government and private sector .
It ’ s critical that both parties create an exchange program where they get to understand each others requirements and create a formidable resource force . The private sector should then sponsor good leaders to take up governance roles even for elective posts to ensure that they are also covered by good governance .
Create non-negotiable Leadership Qualities
It ’ s critical to educate our people to vote wisely for their own good as this indirectly resolves most of the challenges facing businesses e . g . lack of emergency response to business requirements .
Business leaders must also guide voters to ensure that they understand the qualities of good leadership and that our leaders are vetted , exhibit integrity and visionary leadership to secure the future of the coming generations .
Our vetting process is obviously a text book model of how to pass an exam without understanding the content . How can we have over 500 leaders who passed the exam yet we lose Kshs two billion every day ? It ’ s not viable .
The private sector should articulate the need for good values for political leadership . They should advise those around them on the real qualities of a good leader who will work on their business requirements .
They should advise the electorate that the leaders they choose should not just dish out money to citizens but they should focus on critical societal deliverables . The business community should also help the electorate evaluate the performance of leaders e . g . what did the previous leader deliver ? They should paint a picture of success and advise the electorate on the areas that the leader ought to be assessed and appraised on .
Reduce Biases
The world of biases is as old as time itself . A man is greatly influenced not by his genes but mostly by his socialization . Cultural biases in our environment are drivers of our elections . We are greatly driven by tribal biases each being influenced to fight the other or elect leadership based on whether the man or woman is from his tribe or not .
The key thing is that the private sector has a role to ensure that the electorate removes the scales of tribal hatred and animosity . Leadership has no tribe or religion but is a component of great qualities led by selflessness into achieving a common goal .
If you have reviewed the current Kenyan leaders , one of the candidates is addressing issues though in a very adverse way . His politics is about big issues like the economy and differentiated ways of raising capital e . g . selling hemp and rearing snakes . The most astonishing aspect of his politics is that no one cares about his tribe anymore indicating that it ’ s our politicians who direct us to non-issues like tribalism .
Empower Women
As stated before , leadership has no sex . It should not be dictated by gender . Women should dine at the table of political leadership by way of their knowledge and skills and not always through affirmative action . The representation on the ground by women is dismal particularly in the higher offices like the gubernatorial seat .
It ’ s then a big celebration that the inclusion of women e . g . in the presidency gathers a lot of emotion when it happens no matter how qualified a woman is . This should be the norm and we should even have more women represented in the top offices . The private sector should prepare the highly talented women into these high political seats so that they can advance with good leadership skills .
Election Day
The private sector should sponsor peacemaking programs at a greater length to facilitate peaceful elections . Based on a foundation of civic education and messages of peace , the business community can commission village elders and sponsor them to be ambassadors of encouraging the youth to vote without influence of money or empty promises .
Our country is now youthful and it ’ s the onus of the older and more informed in the society to direct the young ones who are voting . Imagine forming a module to train those who are voting for the first time .
What do they need to know as new voters ? What are the do ’ s and don ’ ts ?
Media
Media plays a great role in ensuring that transmission of the right information is done . Media as a business needs to first take the responsibility of ensuring that the voter has rights to correct information . The media should not be biased nor should it spread tribal hate based on self-interests or preferences .
Like Caesar ’ s wife it should be above reproach if it ’ s to work on a sustainable model as a business . It should not air material that spreads propaganda nor be the catalyst of warring candidates . It should lead the pack in all aspects of voter education to ensure that as a country we choose the right leaders . It should act as the moral lead into the future of the country as most people believe what the media spreads as gospel truth .
The social media as a channel should also be a source of moderation for the flaring leadership competitions to ensure that uncontrolled information is not spread maliciously .
The private sector has removed itself from the electoral process and only agrees to play a role where there is business . However , it ’ s important that business leaders play a role in setting the tone of leadership in our country . Profitability without a moral conscience will only breed a society deprived of any values .
Without values , our children will build their moral compass on corruption and violence as a way of life . They will emulate the bad leaders since those are the most admired today . The conscience of the society and it ’ s sustainability is based on the principles we apply as a nation whether in Government or the private sector . This will in turn influence the next generation . Will our conscience lead us to peace and prosperity ?
Pauline Warui is the Founder of East Africa Customer Care Centre . You can commune with her on this or related matters via email at : PWarui69 @ gmail . com .