Lesson Kenyans can learn from General Ogolla’s life

Kenya is mourning a general. In the midst of this sombre mood, there is a lot to learn, unlearn, and relearn. The life of General Francis Ogolla speaks a gallant soldier, and a man of valour whose virtuous life transcends his service to the nation and speaks of the essence of humanity.

The little dalliance the public has had with his son and daughter speaks of an inspirational life well lived.

You don’t have to go many clicks on social media platforms before you encounter conversations of Kenyans extolling a life well lived and a legacy worth emulating.

The clips of his sermon on the reality of human mortality and appreciation of finite life, and the many clips of the general training at Ulinzi Stadium and in different assignments of the glare of official camera gaze speak of a man who led from the front.

The outpouring of emotions and the messages of goodwill speak of the magnitude of the loss to a nation that has never experienced the death of a serving Chief of Defence Forces. It is indeed a demise of a leader who unites us all Kenyans regardless of our little political differences.

Even the one moment in the General’s career that one side of the political divide has over the last two years tried to use for political expediency has since emerged as an instance where the General distinguished himself as a true servant of the people.

He took orders from his boss to serve the nation and stuck to his call of duty - security and NOT politics. Politicians have a knack for bandying narratives to suit their agenda.

As leaders, whether political or thought leaders in different spaces, we need to remind ourselves that our public actions and utterances, social media vitriol and the lazy gossip may have serious consequences.

Even though in such matters of public interest the citizenry is allowed to hold their opinion, it is important to situate conversations within careful reflection. Unfortunately, we are not.

Regardless of the opinions we hold it is imperative that our leaders take the opportunity to learn what to say, when to say and the emotions that they display in public when addressing matters of public interest.

It does appear that everything happening now including what our leaders say and their display of emotions is looked at against the backdrop of their past pronouncements in public and a good number never covered themselves in glory with their acute lack of understanding of the current communication climate.

You see, anything a leader says in public is assumed to have his or her increased commitment.  A lot of our leaders have made pronouncements that are today looked at in fashions that elicit mixed reactions. 

As a member of the Luo community, I cannot pretend that it is not a lot more painful for us and there aren’t mixed emotions. It does hit differently, and it will take some time for it to sink and for us to let go. -Not because he is one of us, but because leaders who have repeatedly failed to live up to the stature of their offices have said things in public that are polemic.

No society can control the emotions of the masses, but progressive leaders in decent societies understand that it is never about themselves and everything need not to revolve around what they do or did.

Our leaders need to wake up to the reality that they are called to a greater responsibility, and it begins with what they say in public and the attendant emotions they attach to their rhetoric. Even in this great loss we can learn and we need to.

—The writer is a PhD candidate in political communication