Prayer for a clean and honest leader

Given our new constitutional dispensation, we Kenyans are now at a more serious junction than we have ever crossed in our 49 years of independence.

During that time when we sincerely did not have to re-invent the wheel in the journey towards civilisation, we have made many mistakes.

That is of course not to say that nothing good has happened. We have indeed attained a lot.

What is obviously evident about independent Kenya is that what we become as a nation has a lot to do with the kind of a national leader we have.

That is why in spite of all our scandals — mainly related to government officials trying to make personal gain out of public resources — there is so much talk and anxiety about who our next top leader will be.

In 2007, we put energy and resources in trying to get such a leader. We of course got one but the contention and the events that followed, though diplomatically managed, still left the image of that leadership rather distorted.

I am a believer in the fact that people belong to God, and therefore I am convinced that it is He who gives a leader to his people depending on their prevailing circumstances.

When I say a leader here I am not thinking of just any ‘leader’. My mind is focusing only on the leadership of a nation. It is my conviction that it was God who gave us Kenyatta.

It is also the same God who gave us Moi after whom he gave us Kibaki. In that respect I am of the opinion that Kenyans today must shift their focus from the human material strength they see in the individuals who have pronounced that they want to lead us at that level and elevate their thinking to what God can do for us.

Some people may think that I am trying to insinuate that we turn all political campaign efforts into prayer rallies. No! It is, however, my humble submission that we can only help the Kenya of the future if we give the God of all creation a chance.

Allow me then to suggest a prayer that we can all say faithfully as we prepare for the elections: God our creator! Give us a leader who has never stolen from the public directly or indirectly.

We yearn for a leader whose hands have no stain of the blood of any fellow Kenyan. Give us a leader who truly respects the rule of law so that justice can be our shield and defender.

Let your will direct our choice of leader but not our perception of power and riches. Amen.

Father Wamugunda is dean of students and sociology lecturer at the University of Nairobi wamugundaw@uonbi.ac.ke