is a Political Sociologist
Alumna – London School of Economics and Political Science
9th December 2024
Dear Readers
Across Africa, the lament is familiar: poor leadership is the continent’s greatest obstacle. This belief, though widespread, often distracts from an uncomfortable reality, our leaders are not anomalies. They are products of the very societies they govern. In many ways, they reflect our values, priorities, and compromises.
This series has explored the transformative spirit of the East African Revival, a movement that began with a call for personal accountability and renewal. It championed a profound truth: lasting change starts within. As we conclude, we must ask whether we, as citizens, have upheld the same standards we demand of our leaders.
Leadership crises in Africa are deeply intertwined with societal norms. Corruption flourishes not because it is inevitable but because we have normalised it at every level. It begins with the casual acceptance of small bribes and favours. Over time, these small acts of dishonesty lay the groundwork for the grand corruption we denounce in our leaders.
The unchecked glorification of wealth also fuels this crisis. Leaders who enrich themselves at the expense of their people often do so knowing they will face admiration, not accountability. In many cases, the clergy, who should be moral guardians, have become enablers of this behaviour. How often do religious leaders accept tithes and donations from corrupt officials, offering special seats in churches in return? By legitimising ill-gotten wealth in the name of faith, they undermine the very values they preach, sending a dangerous message that morality is negotiable.
Nepotism, too, reflects a broader societal tendency to prioritise kinship over fairness. While we criticise leaders for favouring their own, how often do we make similar choices in our own spheres? The problem is not just at the top—it is rooted in habits we fail to challenge in our daily lives.
The East African Revival offers a powerful counter-narrative. It was not a movement of finger-pointing but one of self-examination. Its call for honesty and humility remains relevant today. For governance reform to take root, societal reform must accompany it. We can not demand integrity from our leaders while tolerating dishonesty among ourselves or turning a blind eye when religious institutions perpetuate these patterns.
Throughout this series, we have highlighted the importance of African solutions to African challenges. From honouring indigenous systems of governance to leveraging our spiritual and cultural heritage, we have seen the value of combining the old with the new. Leadership must follow the same principle. We need leaders who are not only visionary but also grounded in the values that reflect the best of our traditions.
True revolutions do not start in palaces or parliaments. They begin in homes, schools, places of worship, and communities. They take shape in the choices we make every day, in how we raise our children, in the standards we set for ourselves, and in the courage we show to speak out against wrongdoing. Leaders emerge from the societies that nurture them. To transform leadership, we must first transform ourselves.
As this series draws to a close, let us move beyond seeing leadership as a distant problem. The mirror reveals what we sometimes wish to ignore: the ways in which our behaviours and attitudes sustain the very systems we criticise. But it also shows our potential, the power we have to foster the kind of society that holds leaders to account and rewards integrity.
The East African Revival may have begun decades ago, but its message is timeless. It calls us to renew our values and reimagine what is possible. The revolution we need is not about looking back. It is about taking the light of that Revival and using it to guide the path ahead.
Final Epilogue: Reclaiming Africa’s Path – Lessons from the East African Revivals
Ciao
Gertrude Kamya Othieno
Political Sociologist in Social Development
Alumna – London School of Economics and Political Science gkothieno@gmail.com
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© 2024 Gertrude Kamya Othieno. All rights reserved. The content of this essay may be shared and circulated for educational purposes, but please ensure that the intellectual property of Gertrude Kamya Othieno is acknowledged
