>>> The Presidential Battlefield: >> same goal, different visions, different strategies!

It’s The American vs. Kenyan politics...

I am writing this with the hope that this post is going to find its way to at least one or two of the Kenyan political leaders.

The election date is drawing closer, and all who are seeking to clinch the presidential seat are busy campaigning and on a mission to woo voters to help them achieve their goal.

As we all know the election period is always an intense one and sometimes when proper care is not taken, conflict and hostility between the opposing parties could arise.

Mark this: the strategies you use as a leader to campaign could either build or destroy your nation!

I say this with great conviction because I have witnessed it in my own country, it is so easy to destroy a nation through politics and it always seems that when it comes to the political scene, people get so aggressive and corrupt deals become the order of the day.

"Know this, America: Our problems can be solved, our challenges can be met. The path we offer may be harder, but it leads to a better place. And I'm asking you to choose that future." President Barrack Obama

I was glued to the T.V screen watching and listening to President Barrack Obama’s speak to thousands of delegates at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C:  I must say, his speech moved me into deep thought. The way he presents his vision with great confidence and composure automatically brings out his leadership skills.

On the other hand, trying to identify a great leader in Kenya is quite a hustle. Even with the campaigns going on, if one was to carry out a research on the most preferred presidential candidate, you would notice that either quite a good percentage aren’t sure, or if they are, the reason as to why they would vote for that particular candidate wouldn’t be any thing close to their vision.

The American general election debates between presidential candidates could be a very great idea to be incorporated in most African states; nevertheless, this also depends on the number of candidates vying for that particular position.

In Kenya we have over 10candidates each one of them battling for the presidential seat; the question to ask is; who is worth your vote? As they all go around campaigning in different regions it is very clear that the Kenyan politics has been and is still being driven by ethnicity and lack of a clear vision.

The problem with Kenya’s political scene is that the strategies being used by politicians to campaign is based on coercing the public to develop a hostile attitude towards the opposing side: and so in most cases time is wasted on attacking the opposition as opposed to presenting a clear vision to the public.

I dream of the day I will witness a nation where two opposing parties can sit in a room and present their manifestos to a group of people without being jeered at or attacked. A forum where leaders speak of what they stand for and where they hope to take this great nation without having to throw stones at their competitors.

Don’t get me wrong: I am not asking our leaders to be or talk like Barrack Obama or Martin Luther: but don’t you think there is a lot that can be borrowed from their leadership and presentation skills?

To our leaders: the people seeking to achieve the same goal as you aren’t your enemies but competitors, it’s just that your dream for the country and how you want to go about realizing it is different. So let’s all stop this hate speech and public attacks and focus on your vision for the country and the people you seek to serve. Speak in truth and conviction, and act on your word!

"I won't pretend that the path I'm offering is quick or easy. I never have. You didn't elect me to tell you what you wanted to hear. You elected me to tell you the truth. And the truth is, it will take more than a few years for us to solve challenges that have built up over a decade." President Barrack Obama’s speech at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C

Written by:

Dorcas Waringa

September 7^th 2012