Responsible leadership for sustainable development in the post-independent Africa: A Kenyan experience

Abstract

The political independence in Africa was welcomed with joy and a heap of expectations, as Africans believed that the new African governments would bring sustainable development after years of subjugation, exploitation and oppression. Unfortunately, this has not been the case. Today, many years after the attainment of the political independence, many African nations largely remain underdeveloped with poverty, diseases, poor communication networks, illiteracy, tribal animosity, economic challenges, injustices, etc affecting every aspect of the African life. This study employed the descriptive survey design and involved a sample of 384 respondents randomly drawn from 8 of the 47 counties in Kenya purposely selected to cover all the 8 regions in Kenya. The study aimed at investigating why Kenya and African nations in general continue to lag behind in development as well experience other perennial problems many years after the attainment of political independence. The study found that although Kenya is endowed with numerous resources, it suffers from the lack of responsible leaders, particularly political leaders. Leaders in Kenya and Africa as a whole are available in abundance but very few are concerned with the welfare of the people they lead. The majority of the leaders are keen to retain power and acquire wealth at the expense of the suffering Africans. This has created a very horrendous situation in Africa as people struggle for the poorly managed resources. No sustainable development can be attained in a situation where leaders are not responsible. To attain sustainable development in Kenya and Africa as a whole we must start to think about our leadership. African leaders must realize that they are stewards who will one day be accountable for what they have done. Responsible leadership and sustainable development are closely interwoven. Recommendations are made on the need to develop our leaders for responsible leadership if at all any meaningful development will be attained in Africa.