Responsible Leadership and Sustainable Development in Post-Independent Africa:A Kenyan Experience

Abstract

The political independence in Africa was welcomed with joy and a heap of expectations, as AfricansbelievedthatthenewAfricangovernmentswouldbringsustainabledevelopmentafter years of subjugation, exploitation, and oppression. Unfortunately, this has not been the case. Today,manyyearsaftertheattainmentofpoliticalindependence,manyAfricannationslargely remain underdeveloped, burdened with poverty, diseases, poor communication networks, illiteracy,tribalanimosity,economicchallenges,andinjustices,―allofwhichaffecteveryaspect of African life. This study, which involved 160 respondents purposely selected from the 47 countiesinKenya,aimedto investigatewhy Africacontinuesto lagbehindindevelopmentdespite autonomousrule.ThestudyfoundthatalthoughAfricaisendowedwithnumerousresources,it suffers from the lack of responsible leaders, particularly political leaders. Leaders in Africa are availableinabundancebutveryfewareconcernedwiththewelfareofthepeopletheylead.The majority of the leaders are keen to retain power and acquire wealth at the expense of the constituents they represent. This has created a very horrendous situation in Africa as people struggletoaccesspoorly-managedresources.Nosustainabledevelopmentcanbeattainedina situationwhereleadersarenotresponsibletothosewhotheylead.Foritisonlytheinstallation ofcompetent,empathetic,equitable,andforward-thinkingleadersthatwillsuccessfullyguidethe sustainabledevelopmentofemergingAfricaneconomies.Africanleadersmustrealizethatthey are stewards of the geopolitical environments they were elected to serve and must be fully accountablefortheiractions.Responsibleleadershipandsustainabledevelopmentareclosely interwoven. Recommendations are interjected regarding how to develop our leaders for responsibleleadershipifanymeaningfuldevelopmentistobegenuinelyachievedinAfrica.