Mohammed Hersi . A hotelier passionate about Tourism & Governance in Africa

“One man, one vote, one shilling” would be meaningless if corruption and resource waste remain unaddressed.

Politicians—I refuse to call them leaders—will create imaginary enemies that do not exist. Politicians can even claim, “Look here, I’ll get you what that man or community has eaten that is in their tummies,” and gullible Kenyans would believe them.

Please write this down. 

Let alone one man, one vote, and one shilling; even one man, one vote, and ten shillings will not change your fortune as long as we don’t have financial discipline. 

In Baringo, they constructed school gates in the wild bush—not one, not two—and gave them fictitious school names, all while receiving funding from the government. Have you seen anyone arrested and charged?

If presidency is everything, then how come my good friends from the mountain are being asked to play victim, yet the house on the hill and the keys to that house were theirs for 35 years? Baringo and Rit Valley 24 years yet poverty galore.

It boils down to one thing: leadership.

Kenyans would all thrive if leadership focused on creating an enabling environment. Handouts take away your dignity. 

Kenyans, like any other human being, would like to fish themselves; they don’t want to be given fish.

Growing up in Marsabit Primary School was all free thanks to the honest leaders then at the Kenya National Equipment School scheme. They even provided us with geometry sets made in the UK and, for the younger ones, black slates with dustless chalk. Why ? 

Thieves refrained from pilfering from those funds, ensuring that you received a basic education. Secondary was a real struggle with school fees, but my parents did all they could to raise my fees, and that gave them pride. We never had a bursary anywhere.

My fellow Kenyans fight for good governance; anything else is nothing but noise. Imagine that all Kenyans are hustling in their own ways. 

You only get elected in Kenya, and you’re busy with the next election within months of your first year. Right now, there is even talk of 2032, let alone 2027. What a tragedy! 

If you win elections, whatever position you are in, get down to work and deliver. Your good work will endear you to the electorate; serving one term is not the end of the world. Despite Kibaki’s decision to serve only one term as president and his lack of emotional investment in politics, we all agree that his tenure stands out as one of the best.

However, it’s important to remember that Kenyans and people in general will value your legacy even after your departure.

As always, yours truly is choosing to remain an optimist. 

Mohammed Hersi 
Mombasa