Sometimes last week, a friend forwarded to me a YouTube video link on WhatsApp. The message had the speech of the former Deputy Speaker of the Senate of the Republic of Kenya during a motion to oust him from the office of the Deputy Speaker.
I was surprised at this forward since the matter of the ousting of the Senate Deputy Speaker was a matter in the public domain, and he must have known that I was aware of the proceedings and outcome of the debate.
That notwithstanding, I do not engage in political chit chat with my friend, and neither do I make commentaries on the subject.
My only engagement with politics is when I do my civic duty as a citizen of electing our political leaders. It was left to my imagination why I had received the forward.
For a moment, I thought my friend wanted me to listen to the former Deputy Speaker who represents Tharaka Nithi county because the county is close to my heart.
It’s also famous or infamous to many a Kenyans since 2007 elections depending on which side suits you best. Either way, I am not a registered voter in the county, and neither am I known to the senator in any way.
Listening to the former deputy speaker’s defence in a motion calling for his ouster reminded me of a story in the good book of a prophet and Judge in the Hebrew Bible named Samuel.
Towards the end of Samuel’s life, he gave a famous speech otherwise known as the farewell speech even though Samuel lived much longer after this speech. Samuel set out to make himself accountable to the people for his exercise of leadership entrusted to him.
He made his life an open book before the people of Israel and gave anyone who wished an opportunity to testify against him. Samuel opened himself to criticism and critique.
He opened himself to corrections by inviting and welcoming it. And if he had done anyone wrong, Samuel was willing to make it right.
The former Deputy Speaker’s speech got me interested in listening to the entire debate in the Senate. All the contributors to the motion sounded to confirm what the former Deputy Speaker of the Senate had claimed in his speech–that he espoused the three virtues I consider very critical for good leadership.
None of the contributors questioned the former Deputy Speakers’ character, competence or even commitment to the Senate.
In the debate, there were humorous moments, expressions of raw emotions by some of the contributors, some sideshows as well as points of order that seemed to lighten the weighty matter that was before the house albeit momentarily.
It did not escape my attention that most of the contributors referred to the former deputy speaker and each other as ‘my brother.’
Never mind that some of the remarks were not one would expect from a brother. There were lots of unsolicited advice to the former deputy speaker, but amidst the many words, there were some excellent pieces of advice worth taking into account.
One piece of advice from a Senator who claimed to have lost four elections and won four others stood out for me. He advised the former deputy speaker to retreat, reflect and restrategize.
Possibly this is the hindsight coming from an elderly politician who has been there and done it and who understands that not everyone who calls you brother means well for you.
When the matter was brought to a vote, the former Deputy Speaker of the Senate was ousted not because of deficiency of character, competence or commitment, but because of a question of where his allegiance was. The reading of ‘loyalmeter’ must have been alarming.
Here’s some food for thought as you reflect with me on the week that was:
- How many leaders are willing to stand and be accountable to the people they lead? Are you ready to let them speak into your life and correct you when necessary? Are you willing to put yourself on trial?
- If you were to take a public accountability test on the essential leadership virtues of character, competence and commitment, how well would you rate?
- What makes you think that as a leader that those who pass the ‘loyalmeter’ today have your interests or those of your followers at heart?
And that’s my reflection on the week that was.
