We change politics by making conditions of politics different, while also choosing PHILOSOPHER KINGS. Part 7

What we need to do it is revise the course. Allow philosophers to become kings. I am an ecologist. There is something I can call TERRITORIAL ADVANTAGE. I use a simple illustration
A crocodile cannot chase an impala on land. Impala has the territorial advantage; it will outrun the crocodile. On water, the crocodile has the territorial advantage; the impala cannot out-swim it. Hence, a crocodile’s first line of attack is always to pull the impala into water
When we killed politics of debate. We allowed insults and violence to flourish in our politics; we gave rascals the territorial advantage. They have thrived and dominated our politics and national life. They grab headlines and seat at the guest podiums in churches and funerals
To attract good leaders, we must tilt territorial advantage to the good leaders. So that our politics becomes more about competition for ideas and policies. We debate more and fight less. We invest more and steal less bcos we don’t need to buy supporters
Remember, the rascal politicians are at their best. They want to the politics to remain as it is. It is their territorial advantage. They can lie about stadiums and other lofty things and won’t be held accountable. They fight and murder without consequences
BUT as long as the politics remain as it is, it attracts low-quality minds. It’s a refuge for social misfits and criminals. We shall continue to have fewer technocrats, fewer women, fewer thinkers, fewer innovators. We shall remain poor and unstable
Going back to philosopher kings. In Jubilee primaries in 2013, Waititu beat Jimnah Mbaru for governor seat (who lost to Kidero). Commenting in Sunday Nation, Phillip Ochieng observed there is SOMETHING WRONG WITH A SOCIETY THAT CHOOSES WAITITU TO RUN THEIR CITY INSTEAD OF MBARU.
Indeed, there is something wrong. I saw David Ndii recently defending the nomination of Bishop Wanjiru as governor candidate. That those opposed to her are motivated with negative elitism
I respect the views but am totally unconvinced. A society educates its children to acquire knowledge and be able to dream and envision better for itself. Every community wants its best trained and learned and gifted to lead them so that they can advance
But in Kenya education is a handicap in politics. Ability to visualize some ideas and policies REQUIRE A THRESHOLD OF INTELLECTUAL ENDOWMENT. We shouldn’t stigmatize education by branding it elitism
Leadership is elite business. It's not for every rank-and-file dimwit and gung go. Its an ivory tower business. A city like Nairobi requires a great mind. Even if it means sourcing such a brain internationally.
But we are petty. That is why the hustler clarion of “kuunda serikali ya mahustlers” is absolute rubbish. The hustler population is created (in the first place) by pedestrian minds who have been in charge of the country. We need thinkers and idealists to envision better Kenya
Great nations have elite institutions. Ivory towers, to churn out philosophers to become kings. We like doing the opposite. Grooming politicians to become Kings and they end up trivializing our entire body politic. Money, insults, violence. Nothing will change with such politics
Do we have philosopher Kings who want to become leaders? Yes, let’s see next/LAST THREAD
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