Kenya

Kenya’s political discourse is a masterclass in contradiction. We demand leaders who are effective yet pure, powerful yet powerless, wealthy yet impoverished. We have convinced ourselves that if only a certain individual were removed from power, our problems would vanish. But history has proven, time and again, that removing a leader does not fix a broken system—reform does.

At the heart of our political delusion is the belief that true leadership is selfless—that a good leader should seek nothing for themselves. This is nonsense. No one ascends to power without some form of personal interest. Whether we put in charge Gen Zee leader Hanifa Adan, PRSK President Arik, LSK President Faith Odhiambo, Auditor General Nancy Gathungu, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, or former Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana, every one of them will seek something for themselves. The real question is: Is what they take worth it? And more importantly, Are they competent?

The real danger is not leaders who gain something from power, but those who come to power pretending they seek nothing at all. Such leaders often rule with the mentality that if they are above personal benefit, then no one else should benefit either. They become vengeful, retributive, and destructive—punishing citizens, businesses, and institutions for merely existing outside their vision of purity. Power is never about total selflessness; it is about balance, competence, and whether the people benefit alongside the leader.

Meanwhile, a dangerous pattern is emerging. The same people who branded themselves “Hustlers” in 2022 have now rebranded as “Gen Zees” in an attempt to hijack a movement. This past week, groups of young men and women who have been glorified as the moral and only solution to our problems—our so-called "Gen Zees"—followed the President around Nairobi and terrorized innocent citizens. These were not oppressed revolutionaries seeking justice. They were entitled, crude, and violent, proving that moral grandstanding does not automatically translate into good governance. If this is the group we have placed all our hopes in, then we are in for a rude awakening.

At the same time, we continue to hold Raila Odinga to an impossible standard. There is an absurd expectation that he must remain impoverished and politically sidelined while still fighting for the same rights that allow us to openly criticize him. Those of us with jobs or businesses do not work for free—so why do we insist that Raila should? Many of the freedoms we take for granted today—the right to protest, to hold dissenting opinions, to challenge authority—were hard-won battles fought largely by Raila and his allies. His resistance against Moi, and later against Kibaki, played a direct role in securing our current (albeit flawed) constitution. It may not be perfect, but it is far better than what we had before.

Yet, instead of learning from the past, we have watered down the legacy of reform. The reformists of the Moi era did not simply complain about governance; they forced change through strategy, resilience, and sheer political will—without waiting for an election cycle. Today’s so-called reformists, however, are a different breed. They are performative, self-righteous, and convinced of their own moral superiority. They see themselves as messiahs who do not need power, influence, or even concrete solutions. Instead, they offer lollipop activism—loud, theatrical, but ultimately hollow. Their only goal is to “punish” those in power, without offering a roadmap for actual governance.

If we are serious about change, we must shift our mindset. Real reform does not come from political tantrums or idealistic purity tests. It comes from demanding accountability now—not waiting for 2027. We must push for governance that works, regardless of whether the leader in power is Ruto, Gachagua, Raila, or anyone else. The era of blind hero-worship or villainization must end.

Kenya must return to the spirit of the Moi-era reformists—those who understood that change is not about individuals but about systems. They did not simply chant "Moi must go." They dismantled his control over key institutions, expanded civic freedoms, and redefined the political landscape—all while he was still in power. This is the kind of reform Kenya needs today.

If we continue to focus on personalities instead of policies, we will remain trapped in an endless loop of dissatisfaction. True leadership is not about moral perfection—it is about competence, strategy, and the willingness to make hard decisions for the greater good. Kenya must stop searching for saints and start demanding solutions.

Gem Musings is a seasoned International Relations and Public Affairs Strategist with extensive experience in global diplomacy, communication, and policy analysis.