The Secret Behind Great Leaders' Success

Sir Winston Churchill

As you may have noticed with some of the greatest leaders world over, they tend to thrive in crisis. It is when things seem to be working so much against them that they manage to perform best. One of such men in history was Sir Winston Churchill, the renowned British writer, military leader and statesman, who was twice named Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. It is he who forged alliances with the United States and the Soviet Union to defeat Nazi Germany in World War II.

Before I let known to you the identity of other such men in present day leadership and politics, allow me to share with you the secret of such leaders. The rare quality lies in the character of such persons. These kind of people are known as social optimists. They are those individuals who expect people to like them no matter the odds. Research shows that if you expect people will like you, they probably will. In present day local leadership and politics, there are few who can be described as social optimists. Among the few is Embu County governor, Martin Wambora, whose tribulations versus achievements will prove to you this unique character trait.

Visionary Governor Martin Wambora PHOTO | FILE

Despite the fact that since his reelection, Governor Wambora has been bombarded by a myriad Court cases challenging his victory, he doggedly forges ahead with his development agenda. On 27 June 2018 - just a few days to his next Court hearing - the esteemed leader received high profile national and international dignitaries in his office before taking them around Embu County on a project Ground-breaking tour. The guests were: Cabinet Secretary, Water and sanitation, Hon Simon Chelugui, Principle Secretary Mr. Joseph Irungu, representative of Japan Ambassador Hon. Toshitsugu Uesawa and a representative of the World Bank among others.

Accompanying Governor Wambora were a number of Embu County leaders; mentioned right after the series of photos below, that speak volumes about the whole project:

Governor Wambora (right) receives the CS, Water and Sanitation Hon. Simon Chelugui at his office in Embu on 27 June 2018

The Cabinet Secretary with governor Wambora and other national and international leaders address the press at Embu County headquarters before visiting the new sewerage project site for a Groundreaking ceremony, as indicated in the plaque below.

Water Cabinet Secretary Simon Chelugui, the Principal Secretary Mr. Joseph Irungu, Embu County governor Martin Wambora, Senator Njeru Ndwiga, Kirimari Ward MCA Morris Nyagah (Collo) and Infrastructure Executive in the county Suleiman Kariuki together with the project engineers at the new sewerage site during the ground-breaking ceremony.

The team of professionals and executives gets taken through the project, virtually

Hosts; Governor Wambora and Senator Njeru Ndwiga (in brown shoes) at a reception with the guests after the project tour

Among Embu leaders who graced the occasion were Hon. Senator Njeru Ndwiga, Hon. Women Rep. Jane Wanjuki, Hon. Kingang'i of Mbeere South (MNA), his Mbeere North counterpart  Hon. Muriuki Njagagua and Kirimari Ward MCA Morris Nyaga (Collo).

In his speech Governor Wambora expressed his government's gratitude to Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the World Bank for funding the over sh. 2B project. On the same stride, he appreciated Embu Water and Sewerage Company (EWaSCO), the Department of Water in the County and other  stakeholders involved in the noble project to relocate the current sewerage site near the entry to Embu County and rehabilitate the place to be a beautiful recreational park and a tourist attraction.

The dignitaries; when they visited the new sewerage site at Dallas in Embu town

Would You Rather Be Part of the Problem OR Part of the Solution?

The kidney transplant
misfortune as reported
on social media

The land of opportunities is now becoming the land of many firsts. For those unfamiliar with which land is referred to here; It's Embu County. Of late, the formerly laid back ethnic community is hitting the headlines of both the social and the mainstream media, with all kinds of news astounding Kenyans. 

As much as more times than less the county has come to the public attention for controversial reasons, the fourth estate will tell you that there is nothing like negative publicity. After all, haven't you seen how scandalous news spreads like bushfire; trending and going viral like a virus?

Take for instance the recent kidney transplant that had been initially applauded, only to turn awry later. Though it pains a writer just to write about the operation, there will always be need to publish such; if only for future reference.

Some say that Embu County government takes after the national government in terms of having sagas to cover previous ones. Was it not the other day that the social media was ablaze with the 'Pantie scandal'? Right about the same time was the issue of MCAs' gym fees that was to be allegedly footed by the government using taxpayers' money. Before then was the aborted Appeal Court hearing emanating from the 2017 election loser's petition against the incumbent's victory (the judges withdrew from the case citing attempted efforts at bribery by the aforementioned politician). We could go back all the way to the teething problems of devolution when the county's leader, Martin Wambora became the first governor in Kenya to face impeachment and the first one to emerge victorious.

Governor Martin Wambora of Embu County

Thus argue some of the elite in the society that just like the national government covered up the 'handshake' gimmick with Miguna Miguna's debacle - to date Nairobi County has no Deputy Governor and nobody talks about it anymore - which was in turn covered up by the NYS heist followed by the 'mercury in the sugar' story, so does the much naturally endowed county operate. Anyhow, whether you like it or not, Kenya will continue being a shining star in Africa and Embu a celebrity county within it. 

One of the awards to Embu
County since devolution set off

Was not the same Embu Level 5 hospital recently praised for having conducted a first successful brain surgery? Did the county not bag a coveted award for Best  Practice in Healthcare?

Was it not the first county to introduce Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) program; complete with free school milk for the pupils and close to 500 professional teachers employed on permanent and pensionable basis? So many firsts, that if fully enumerated would render this article endless.

So much having been said, you and I can only be on either of these two sides: The pessimist who will always find a problem in every solution or the optimist who will find a solution for every problem. Which side are you?

Get a Taste of EMBU POLITICS on Social Media

A screenshot of the so called
'Pantie' scandal

Embu County, under the leadership of Governor Martin Wambora is not new to controversy. What do you expect when the land is so full of opportunities that only the bright can see?

Just like the hare in the old folk tale that decided that ripe fruits were unripe only after failing to reach them, some people will do anything, including bribery (corruption) to make their own homeland look bad in the public eye; all because they lost in the August 2017 election. Just have a look at the posts below and get to know some of those who are good for development and some of those who are bad for business:

Here was a post on Facebook by one of the warriors in the fight against corruption; followed by feedback from another fighter as below:

Shortly afterwards, the opposition started shooting back, and from the quality of their posts you can tell which between the two camps makes sense.

Soon, we shall bring you the actual story and the real value of the much demonized (sanitary pads with pants) hygiene project. We will back it up with beneficiaries' testimonies.

HOW TO TACKLE MEDIOCRITY INTELLIGENTLY

Lady advertises T-shirts
for the Rugby Embu 7s
to take place over the
June 23/24 weekend at
Embu Stadium

"The recent uproar by some members of the County Assembly of Embu concerning a Sh50 million allocation for completion of Embu Stadium is in bad taste", Said one of my elite friends to an audience of opinion makers. "It smells of a NYS-like scandal". He added, causing a verbal stampede to break out, with everyone having something to say in response.
   "Did you say bad taste?"
Retorted one of the most politically energetic women I've come across in my career.
    "Talking of corruption. It's very fortunate that nowadays we can discuss financial scandals and rot in the government without fear. Thank you ladies and gentlemen for giving me an opportunity to share with you some knowledge I gained from a recent Civic Education program conducted by the World Bank."

Governor Wambora, accompanied by Youth Empowerment and Sports Department executives; CECM John Kiamati and Chief Officer Sam Wachira meets the Embu 7s organizing committee at the stadium on 20 June, 2018. Also present was Kirimari Ward MCA Morris Nyaga (Collo) among other leaders. PHOTO by Elias Mugendi

At the mention of the words 'World Bank' all attention shifted to the young female orator.

"If you think that corruption is more rampant today than it was five years ago, you are right to think so," She continued, "Because before I attended the World Bank lecture on public participation in matters to do with finance at county level, I had not realized that were it not for public participation propagated through social media, most of the biggest heists ever carried out in Kenya would never have come to light. It's only that today, through our social networks, we get to know more than before.

For a long time, we have been attending Public Participation forums while full of apathy, our interest only on the sitting allowance we would receive. Some of us would even solicit bribes from politicians so that we may ensure that some items in the supplementally budget do not get approval. Obviously, the reason some politicians would be opposed to certain expenditure allocations was because the concerned ventures would not serve their selfishness...and just like sheep follow the butcher, we the public would fabricate all kinds of lies to mudsling the budget estimates little knowing it is us who will suffer"

Some of Embu's best will grace
the event

At that juncture, you could hear a pin drop. What with everyone paying full attention to the young woman's 'lecture' with even some taking notes. Our gathering had suddenly become a public participation forum. Thank God that relevant authorities were aware of our meeting. Ours was a lawful assembly. Before anybody could interrupt, our fair lady continued,

"Take for example the recent argument by some members of the County Assembly of Embu that the allocation of Sh50 million in the 2018/19 budget to build Embu Stadium up to international standards is a waste of taxpayers' money. Do these people comprehend the levels of revenue such an investment would fetch for the County? Have they considered how much the state-of-the-art stadium would do in promoting talent among the youth? Don't they see that the facility would reduce crime, immorality and drug addiction among other vices? Have they not thought of the networks and about the households that will be fed out of money earned by local players using that stadium? What about the hundreds of events that will be hosted there for a fee? Are these opposers serious that they can't see that the gains to be got from this project, financial and otherwise are several times more than the Sh50 million?"

By the time she was done enumerating all the profits the county would make from the stadium project, everyone was convinced that the allocation is alright and the project is feasible.

IS IT TRUE THAT LENNY KIVUTI AND GOVERNOR WAMBORA AGREED TO WORK TOGETHER?

Former Embu senator Lenny Kivuti (right) and the incumbent governor Martin Wambora exchange a handshake and a hug during the burial of National Assembly Speaker JB Muturi's mother on June 2, 2018. Senior government officials look on. PHOTO| COURTESY

Your guess is as good as mine, for it is written, 'Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God' (Mathew 5:9).

Whoever got ears to hear has heard and whoever got data to surf the Internet has learnt! In the wake of the trending 'handshake saga', former Meru governor Peter Munya and incumbent Kiraitu Murungi did the handshake thing in the presence of the president during the recent celebrations of Madaraka Day at Meru Kinoru Stadium. 

The governor of Meru County Kiraitu Murungi (right) exchanges a handshake with his predecessor Peter Munya, marking the end of divisive politics in the populous county. PHOTO|COURTESY

The following day, amid unlimited speculation, kingmakers of Embu County predicted a Wambora-Lenny handshake that should work magic like it's doing with Uhuru and Raila. Tentatively, the burial of the late mother to National Assembly Speaker JB Muturi in Embu on Saturday 2 June, 2018 was expected to provide an opportunity for the two Embu gubernatorial titans' handshake. It is rumored that the two leaders agreed to put aside their differences; Lenny to help Wambora complete his second term in peace so as to get his endorsement in 2022.

Governor Wambora addresses mourners during the high profile burial ceremony, in the presence of President Kenyatta. PHOTO|COURTESY