Kenyan politicians fail export test but they make the cut for shipment

If Kenyan politicians were products for export, most would fail the quality check before leaving the factory. Some would be deemed unfit for global presentation right at home, yet the lure of foreign trips, official allowances, and prestige pushes them to stage themselves on the international market. Abroad, they attempt to manipulate and polish the very qualities that disqualify them at home—greed, pride, vanity, and dishonesty—packaging them as virtues. But foreign audiences usually see through the act.

Greed comes first - an endless hunger for money. At home, it shows in secret deals, inflated assets, and careless handling of public funds. Abroad, politicians try to make their wealth appear reasonable, as if a bit of polishing could hide years of mismanagement. But foreign observers are not easily fooled. Past actions, public records, and even dramatized behavior reveal the truth.

Next is pride—the feeling that one is too important to be questioned. At home, it shows in loud speeches, ceremonial dominance, and insistence on protocol, even when rules are broken. Abroad, pride becomes a trap. Foreign colleagues notice overconfidence, and charm alone cannot hide arrogance. Pride cannot travel well.

Lust—the craving for attention and influence—drives politicians to exaggerate their achievements. Invitations to conferences and forums become stages for showmanship. Flashy presentations may fool some, but careful observers see the gap between talk and action. They demand honor and try to buy it where they have not earned it. Lust for visibility often backfires.

Wrath—the urge to punish, harm, or act without justice—shows itself at home in insensitivity to killings, corruption, and injustice. Abroad, this must be carefully masked. Politicians post apology videos, stage meetings with victims’ families, and issue statements of regret. Some even speak boldly against corruption just before jetting out. Yet foreign observers, used to real systems of accountability, quickly detect empty gestures. Wrath is a heavy load to carry across borders.

Envy—the urge to diminish others in order to feel superior—thrives as politicians block rivals at home. Abroad, it is harder to hide. Global peers judge results, not boasts. Attempts to mask envy with networking or appearances often fail. On international platforms, they encounter leaders who genuinely love their people. For such leaders, envy is a triviality not worth budgeting for. Our politicians are left stranded, for their favorite art draws no interest in the global gallery.

Gluttony—the overconsumption of resources, influence, and privilege—is plain at home in extravagant lifestyles and wasteful offices. Abroad, some may attempt a show of moderation, but their excesses are soon exposed. They open their mouths wide, only to be silenced by the question, “How are your people doing?” They dare not lie, for the world already knows Wanjiku’s pain and how she is exploited for political gain. Their love of pomp is milked abroad, but their leadership is quietly mocked.

Deceitful Folly—the habit of lying while assuming people are fools—hurts politicians abroad more than at home. At home, they may get away with empty slogans, twisted facts, and staged performances. Abroad, such tricks collapse quickly. Global peers expect substance, not spin. When politicians believe their fabrications will pass unchecked, they expose both their dishonesty and their arrogance. The contempt they show their people becomes their own undoing.

Talent – True Export

Now, consider ordinary Kenyans—athletes, engineers, doctors, entrepreneurs—who compete and succeed far beyond politicians on the global stage. These individuals thrive despite a domestic system that often makes progress difficult. Their skill, focus, and persistence allow them to shine worldwide.

Take athletes, for example. Kenya’s success in running is not a gift from politicians. It comes from local clubs, mentors, training programs, private initiatives, and the athletes’ discipline. Politicians may try to get attention by giving small donations, but money alone does not create success. Real opportunity comes from systems that allow talent to grow: good facilities, coaching, and chances to compete internationally. Success is built, not bought.

Politicians often appear on podiums with medalists, smiling for the cameras, but they contribute little to the victory. The real engine is the athlete’s work and largely private systems that support them. This shows a simple truth: the Wanjiku-hustler—the everyday Kenyan who works, creates, and perseveres— given opportunity, can lead, influence, and shape industries worldwide. The recognition of our politicians abroad is mostly protocol-based, not achievement-centered; no one asks them for autographs! They are poor and risky flag-bearers. They only breathe at home.

Moral Global Lessons

This imagining of exporting politicians teaches a clear lesson. A society that tolerates greed, pride, lust, wrath, envy, gluttony, and laziness produces leaders unfit for global visibility and responsibility. Ethics and accountability matter. Relevance cannot be bought—it must be built. Politicians cling to status and ceremonial recognition, while Wanjiku-hustler creates lasting influence and tangible results even in politically hostile environments.

Citizens -like our athletes - carry Kenya’s name with skill, honor, and integrity on the global stage. Politicians, weighed down by the vices they embrace, confine themselves to domestic politics, where moral compromise is often tolerated. Kenya’s professionals in contrast, are admirable in countless ways and stand as symbols of possibility.

The contrast between politician and citizen is a moral mirror. Politicians expose flaws, compromise ethics, and normalize wrongdoing. Citizens, by contrast, show what is possible when resilience and effort intersect. Even the hope for a much-needed values renaissance in Kenya rests more with its citizens than with its politicians.

A sweeping assessment shows that citizens and politicians are not on the same page. Often, Kenyan-style politicians are barriers, not gateways, to the nation’s creatives. They dream only for themselves, spinning the real dreams of ordinary Kenyans in circles. Too often, the aspirations of the people die in the hands of pretentious leaders. They are also dream snatchers, stealing the ambitions of ordinary Kenyans for their own gain while leaving true talent trapped or unnoticed.

While politicians chase offices, appearances, and recognition, ordinary Kenyans create, innovate, and push forward. From highland runners to urban innovators and diligent farmers, the country’s true strength is in the everyday ingenuity of its people. Politicians survive only in local systems, but citizens, when given opportunity, become global drivers.

Vice may carry politicians at home, but it collapses on the world stage. Kenya’s true strength lies in the Wanjiku-hustler—the everyday Kenyan who works, creates, perseveres, and excels despite obstacles. Give the Wanjiku-hustler opportunity, nurture their talent, and build systems that reward merit and integrity. Then Kenya will not just survive globally; it will thrive and inspire.