Kenya is peaceful today because many leaders have sacrificed by controlling their tempers, staying united during tough times, and working with our late Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga and the governing forces when sacrifice was needed over self-interest. I respect that history. But last week in Kitui, something changed for me. When a national day became a stage for partisanship and harsh orders to “keep off,” it was the last straw on a back I have carried for too long. We are playing a short game with a long country.
I speak as a leader among other party leaders. The Green Thinking Action Party has only one representative. Sounds insignificant, right? Yet here is what gives me the moral right to speak as an equal: out of Kenya’s ninety registered parties, only forty-eight qualify for taxpayer funding through the Political Parties Fund this year, and ours is one of them. The Fund totals about KSh 1.14 billion. GTAP receives KSh 484,000 from that amount. We could have earned more by lowering our ethical standards for aspirants, but we chose principle over convenience. Regardless of the amount, these are public funds, not private resources. That single fact makes us equal because it binds us all to one master — the people who pay.
That’s why Kitui matters. Leaders may have different opinions, but it is unconstitutional to use public offices, budgets, or platforms for party conflicts. The law requires neutrality and selfless service. If you benefit from the public funds, you cannot turn that office into a tool for party politics.
Around Mashujaa Day, the Wiper Party leader announced he would not attend the national celebrations, and he did not. That was his choice, and every leader must act according to conscience. Yet, for many who hoped for unity on a day meant to honor heroes, his absence was felt. It became the story, overshadowing the very people we came to celebrate. Soon, louder voices and careless jokes emerged about citizens being paid to listen or laugh. The political class chuckled; the nation winced. Such words spread quickly and erode trust.
Imagine this: KSh 1.14 billion of taxpayer money is allocated to political parties this year. If each shilling were a seed, the Fund could grow a million tiny forests of a thousand trees each, every year. Yet too often, those shillings spark short-term fires that erode public trust.
Short-term thinking is our nation’s biggest weakness. It quietly damages us in small, but persistent ways. Look at our dams. Due to poor planning, lawsuits, and politics, Kenyans have paid or may be forced to pay billions in fines, interest, and settlements while water and power projects stall. The Auditor-General and credible reports have documented these losses, and headlines warn of more consequences if large projects are canceled halfway. Corruption is not just a scandal; it’s a continuous blow. If you don’t stop the bleeding, no amount of new funds will save the patient.
I am not a government agent, and the government is not innocent. Nor is the opposition. Every leader is “inside” somewhere: State House, Parliament, County Hall, or a publicly funded party office. If we demand integrity from government while treating our party cheques like private war chests, what are we teaching the youth who watch us? Monkey see, monkey do is not a development plan.
My sincere advice to fellow leaders is straightforward: manage your own house properly. Let our parties adhere to the same Constitution we support. Use public funds for peace, not politics. Maintain transparent books.
Politics is a game; play fair and keep the jokes respectful. If your rival wins with better ideas, congratulate and learn. The voter is not blind. Manipulation always comes back to you.
Leaders, we nourish Kenya’s soul daily. Let it be discipline, not drama. Let parties last longer than hashtags and serve the nation. The funds that equalize us should also civilize us. Think Green, Act Green.
