Leadership
dynamics have gone through various shifts, one of which is a shift from
leadership being focused on the leader but to the followers. Through this lens
of leadership, followers are seen not as idle wheels that just follow the
steering of their leader, but as great contributors to good or bad leadership. A
case of bad leadership then is a reflection of the followers’ failure to
influence their leaders positively because it’s through their permission that
these leaders act or lead.
Why
then do we as followers permit what is not good? It’s either because we like it
that way or we are completely ignorant of our responsibilities as followers. If
it’s true that we like it that way then we are indeed doomed, we cannot be
helped. If it’s a matter of ignorance then we need to know and begin to engage
our leadership to demand better and accountable leaders. That way we certainly
provide an antidote to toxic or dysfunctional leadership and help quell
the uncontrolled and sinister ambitions of toxic leaders.
As we prepare to vote in new leaders in the coming
year, we need to note those that divide us along ethnic lines and who create distrust
and hostility among us. We must shun them or withdraw their power to act. We definitely don't need such leaders. What we need are leaders who serve the nation with
determination, who have a compelling vision that every Kenyan wants to identify
with and as their followers if they deviate from it we not only notice but demand
that they go back to the original blueprint agreed upon at the beginning of
their terms and they humbly consent.
