Narcissistic leadership style sinking Kenyans into mental health abyss

In 2019, I pointed out in a presentation to the task force on mental health in Kenya that negative behaviour by the political class was adversely affecting citizens’ mental health. The situation today is far worse as Kenyans endure hard economic times, healthcare challenges and other social problems resulting from missteps by the country’s leaders and the political elite.

Many Kenyans cannot adequately meet basic needs such as food, shelter, clothing, clean water, education, healthcare, and security. And this is contributing to many cases of mental health illnesses in our society. What with the current high-octane politics in the country.

Our politicians behave like psychopaths. Renowned psychologist Dr Robert Hare developed a checklist for psychopathy, which is used extensively by criminologists. Many criminals have been found to have the Dark Tetrad syndrome, which includes psychopathy, narcissistic personality disorder, Machiavellianism (manipulation and gaslighting, until the victim doubts their own sanity) and sadism (delighting in others’ suffering).

Psychopaths display a superficial charm with an egocentric or grandiose sense of self-worth. They are impatient and easily bored, often lying pathologically. They lack empathy, and are unwilling to recognise or genuinely identify with the feelings and needs of others. They live parasitically by exploiting others for selfish gain. They have poor self-control, are impulsive and short-tempered, with a history of promiscuous sexual relations.

They often have early behavioural problems and refuse to accept responsibility for their own actions. They also lack the perseverance required to follow through and complete realistic, long-term goals. They also display anti-social behaviour, violating the rules of society without remorse or guilt, and committing many types of offences.

Divide and rule

Those with narcissistic personality disorder also exhibit traits like arrogance, envy, an insatiable need for admiration, fantasies of unlimited success, resulting in exaggeration of their achievements, expecting to be recognised as superior without commensurate achievements. They have a sense of entitlement for favourable treatment and unquestionable loyalty.

They use “divide and rule” tactics, and are poor team players, often taking credit for work well done, and blaming others for mistakes, suffocating their staff by micromanaging them.

Does all that ring a bell in our case? How else does one explain the arrogant disregard and lack of empathy displayed by our leaders, for the unmet needs of the populace in terms of service delivery? How does one explain their constant lying, failure to fulfill promises, mind-boggling sense of entitlement, remorselessly violating our Constitution, rule of law, and basic human rights?

How does one explain their continuous refusal to take responsibility for crimes like ongoing abductions and executions, leaving us all in fear for our lives?

How does one explain the blatant theft of State coffers, punitive taxation that is servicing massive ongoing odious debt, daily scandals, cartels, obscene salary hikes and extravagant lifestyles while gaslighting us by claiming austerity measures and economic prosperity?

In comparison, there are nations like Singapore that experienced success by embracing servant leadership. Today, Singapore, which also got independence in 1963 just like Kenya, is miles ahead of our country economically and in general development.

The Prime Minister famously practised “MPH”, an acronym for Meritocracy (hiring qualified personnel), Pragmatism (implementing practical solutions) and Honesty (intolerance to corruption). Their current leader is content to travel on commercial flights instead of hiring private jets.

Closer home, President Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso has been a shining example of what humble servant leadership looks like, working tirelessly to improve the wellbeing of his people.

Authentic leadership is service. There is an urgent need for “massive betrayal trauma healing in Kenya”, and qualified servant leaders who are committed to serving the populace through good governance, upholding constitutional values for the “Kenya We Want” dream.

The people of Kenya are in fact the sovereign employers of leaders (according to Article One of the Constitution), who have the power to take back the power from leaders who are wreaking havoc on our collective health through their incompetence and narcissistic leadership styles.

In future, all leaders should be meticulously screened for qualifications, mental competence, and a proven track record of personal integrity and servant leadership. One thing is for sure: Our beloved freedom fighters who shed blood, sweat and tears for the Motherland, are turning in their graves.