war on ignorance. Framing a hypothesis that would lead to research and data collection that would inform policy and guide governance. His battle cry?“ Without accurate and timely data, we are planning in the dark.”
He overhauled the entire national statistical system because he knew you could not build a prosperous future on the shaky foundation of guesswork. The impact? He gave Kenya the gift of clarity, ensuring every shilling spent and every policy drafted was informed by the stark, cold, hard facts and qualified data.
Be an Architect- Dream and Act
We all have visions. Have we mapped them out using data and not emotions? Have you drawn them out as statements, then developed a strategy for accomplishing them with evaluation and monitoring metrics to measure stages and performance? Very few of us at a personal level have a blueprint, let alone for our businesses or the institutions or roles we serve.
Nalo was the principal architect working in a team of other critical officers and colleagues who transformed the lofty dream of Kenya Vision 2030 from a political statement and an inspiring poster into a detailed, actionable, and measurable plan. He did not just imagine a prosperous Kenya; he designed the pillars, laid out milestones, and built the accountability frameworks( like the National M & E Unit) to make it a reality. He gave the nation not a slogan, but a flight path to an economically sustainable future.
Translate Intention to Implementation
In public service, good ideas are vast but can be killed and buried in the documentation graveyard. Nalo refused to let brilliant plans rest in peace. He introduced the Rapid Results Initiative( RRI), which was a collective idea from staff and colleagues, with a deliciously pragmatic mantra:“ We must change the bureaucracy from discussing what should be done to celebrating what has been done”. He was the ultimate antiprocrastinator.
Negotiate Objectively and with Nerve, Not Noise
Facts, Data and Strategy all with a human face are what Kenya was known for in World Trade Organisation meetings, among other high-level negotiations, thanks to the sharp minds of CS Dr Mukhisa Kituyi and, more so, the late Nalo. As PS for Trade, Nalo faced down some of the world’ s sharpest and most powerful negotiators in complex trade talks in the EU, AGOA, USA, WTO, and ILO, among others.
While others might have blustered in longenduring, heated, emotive issues, Nalo was calmly strategic. With great poise and bolstered by data-driven objectivity, He declared Kenya would not sign any Economic Partnership Agreement that“… undermines our development objectives,” and he meant it. He protected Kenyan farmers, traders and industries with shrewdness and steel, proving that true strength is not about raising your voice, but about raising your standards.
Design for Inclusive Posterity
True genius lies in making the complex simple and exclusive accessible. Negotiate, plan and implement policies that espouse equality, equity and value-based socioeconomic benefits that transcend borders. As the driver of East African Integration, Nalo could have gotten lost in protocols. Instead, he built information centres at border posts for a simple reason:“ Integration is not just about governments and protocols; it is about people.” He wanted Wanjiku and the small businesspersons to understand and claim their rights. He built bridges for everyone, not just the elites. Integration is about dignity in connections and interactions of different people that are inherently one, as we are all human.
Embody Quiet Stewardship
Stand out in your class- be Top Class and rise to be World-Class! Serving with tenacious intelligence, hard and smart output as unto God and for his people- Nalo embodied these values. In the roles he held and institutions he served, including committees and boards, his stewardship was evident.
In a world obsessed with self-promotion, Nalo’ s humility was his superpower. He saw himself as a steward, not a master, of public resources. His guiding principle, as recalled by colleagues, was a profound sense of duty:“ We are here as stewards … We must work with integrity and a sense of urgency because the people of Kenya are waiting.” He proved that the most powerful person in the room is often the one who does not need to prove they are.
Build Emotional Intelligence and Legacies will fall in Place
Understanding the intricate patterns of cultural diversity, traditions, values, and socio-economic priorities was a sharpened acumen of Nalo. The heartbeat of his leadership was making people matter first, then the mandates of their roles would be delivered. Staff wherever he served knew they counted. Nalo took time to know them, to know their strengths, gifts, needs and challenges.
Together, they would map out how each would contribute and grow. Challenging them to grow academically, spiritually and be financially astute. Giving them an opportunity to innovate and share ideas within their directorates and even directly with him.
Nalo did not build sandcastles that would be washed away by the next tide; he built staff welfare that stood as testament cathedrals. From the statistical system to the standards bureau( KEBS) to the frameworks of regional trade, his focus was always on people first, including staff-growth, institutional governance and sustainable development( institutionbuilding).
He built pillars so others could build upon them. His legacy is not a single project; it is the very architecture of modern Kenya’ s economy that supports sustainable growth. The mark of a truly great leader is a legacy that endures long after they have left the stage.
David Nalo’ s story reminds us that the most impactful leadership often happens away from the spotlight. It is in the patient drafting of a plan, the stubborn insistence on data and the humble act of extensive consultations, then building something meant to last longer than anyone’ s lifetime.
So, the next time you think about leadership, think less about the roaring on stage and more about the quiet maestro, orchestrating a better future from the wings. That is where the real magic happens.
Do you have a story about the Late David Nalo? Share it with us. You might inspire us to write his biography.
Lunani Joseph is a Technology & Governance Professional. Currently serving as the County Minister of Commerce, Tourism & Cooperatives in the County Government of Vihiga. You can commune with him via email at: JLunani @ insynqueafrica. com, Instagram: @ lunanijoseph Twitter: @ joseph _ lunani LinkedIn: @ josephlunani.