Kenya’s Central Bank Governor Fears Youth Lacking Role Models

Kenya’s Central Bank Governor Fears Youth Lacking Role Models

CANAA || By Father Don Bosco Onyalla, Nairobi || 10 November 2016

The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) Governor, Dr. Patrick Njoroge, early this week expressed the fear that the youth are lacking role models and challenged all those with leadership roles to lead with integrity.

He was addressing participants at the Tangaza University College (TUC) Leaders Guild conference Monday, November 7, where he was the keynote speaker.

“Are we giving our youth a vision that frees us from this chain of corruption and poverty?” Dr. Njoroge questioned, wondering how the society can start to bank on young people.

“When they look for role models, they are confused how the leaders carry themselves,” the CBK Governor who is also a member of the Opus Dei said with regard to the youth in Kenya.

The Leaders Guild conference brought together 182 participants drawn from different organizations, colleges, universities, and individual entrepreneurs under the theme: leading with integrity.

 In recent weeks, there have been alleged misappropriation of public funds amounting to hundreds of millions of US Dollars in a section of government ministries in Kenya, in addition to ongoing probe in other sectors of government.

 “The only version we can give to the youth is through showing them leadership of integrity in every aspect of their lives,” Dr. Njoroge whose Opus Dei faith has shaped his daily life and work ethic advised and urged those in leadership to be their best selves at all times as to be role models to the youth.

 He advocated for servant leadership saying, “Discovering your leadership potential is not a discovery of opportunity for possession or accumulation of material wealth but a disposition to service.”

 “Leadership is all about the enhancement of values and enriching the lives of others,” Dr. Njoroge went on to say and added, “Showing true leadership is not just earning, but giving, respect and loyalty, fostering an undying commitment to doing right by the people you lead, and incredible kindness and empathy that only grows throughout your lifespan.”

 He urged the conference participants to make ethical leadership their priority saying, “being an ethical leader means going beyond being a good person. Ethical leaders make ethics a clear and consistent part of their agendas, set standards, model appropriate behavior, and hold everyone accountable.”

 Speaking at the same occasion, the Chief Executive Officer of Uchumi Supermarkets Limited, Dr. Julius Kipng’etich, emphasized the value of a legacy on the part of leaders.

 “All said and done, the highest and most enduring value that you will ever be able to give as a leader is the value of what you leave behind,” Dr. Kipng’etich said and explained, “Your legacy to the generations that follow will be seen in how much value you have added to your community, organization or where you serve and how many lives [have] improved.”

Among the objectives of the conference were:

• To inspire participants to uphold integrity as a key value despite the challenges the nation is facing.
• To explore various ways in which leaders can handle corruption challenges as they strive to lead with integrity
• To reflect and gain insight on disparities between what is taught and practiced for positive transformation from the inside out
• To propose recommendations for key stake holders on how to address corruption effectively.

Matara Patrick of the Leaders Guild, Center for Leadership and Management, Tangaza University College, contributed to this article.