Kenyan President's Leadership Style - Case Study Example

Leadership Style Name Course Instructor’s Name 8th May 2010 Mwai kibaki is the president of the republic of Kenya. He was elected as the president of Kenya in the year 2002 after successfully winning the general elections (Adizes, 2004). Previously he was still in the Kenyan cabinet holding various positions (Central Intelligence Agency, 2009). He was once a graduate from Makerere University and afterwards engaged in politics when he discovered he had the potential to lead the Kenyan citizen (Mwakikagile, 2001).He comes from a very humble background and his up bringing was full of challenges but he stood firm despite of what he had encountered to see his dreams become a reality. He joined politics in early sixty’s and since then he became famous in the republic of Kenya, he started by joining one of the political parties known as Kenya African national union which was the leading party by then headed by Daniel moi who was formerly the president of Kenya, he was given a position as the executive officer and he assisted in drafting the constitution of Kenya. Three years down the line the people of donholm constituency gave him a chance to lead and they elected him as their member of parliament. In that same year he worked very hard for his people and he was promoted to serve as the secretary for the treasury on permanent basis. He was later recognized to have a zeal for the Kenyans and he was appointed as the minister of commerce and industry (Mwakikagile, 2001). Some years later, he got a chance to serve as a finance minister and economic planning for thirteen years. As he was still in parliament, he encountered competition from one of his competitors and in the following election, he opted to serve his people in the rural home where he was born and brought up in. He legally won the seat out of his fame; in the same season of service to his people he was declared by a local newspaper as one of the best leaders out of the many chosen (Mbugua, 2003). He has served his constituency for over twenty years. It was noted that since this leader got a promotion to be in the finance department the common citizen enjoyed a season of prosperity as a result of good pricing technique of crops and local materials (Adizes, 2004). He once climbed the ladder of leadership and was favored to become Kenyans vice president. In his position as the assistant president, his work became so recommendable and excellent. After a long period of serving under the former president, he was demoted from his position and taken down to be in the heath department. He humbly accepted his new department with on strings attached and he continued to submit under the authority in spite of the public shame (Mwakikagile, 2001). His leadership style during these many years of service begun to be termed as non confrontational and his fellow politicians saw him as a coward who never stood focused on one position for he had almost passed through every department in the ministry. After a long period of criticism and ill treatment, he made a decision to step out of the leading party and form his own which became an opposition party (Mbugua, 2003). In 1992 general elections, he attempted to become the Kenyan president but unfortunately, he lost the position. Six years later, he officially became the only opposition leader in parliament. In 2002, he joined other opposition parties to form one coalition and luckily, he was chosen to be the chairperson of these parties (Mwakikagile, 2001). Few months later, the general elections were conducted and he finally fulfilled his dream of becoming the third president of the republic of Kenya. In his service as a president, he has developed most parts of the country by fixing general, short and long-term problems like road construction, digging boreholes, offering free primary education and encouraging young people to be self employed through the constituency development fund specifically designed for up coming projects (Central Intelligence Agency, 2009). These funds played a major role in developing long forgotten parts of the country a good example being the northern Kenya. He has tirelessly campaigned for peace, love and unity while condemning nepotism, tribalism and racism His leadership style has been known to be democratic compared to other leaders who are dictator’s commonly in Africa, for he allows his citizens to express themselves and air out their views. The freedom that has been given to every person signifies his willingness to serve fairer and treat each individual equally. Before he amends any arising matter, he first consults his fellow colleagues, sits together in the parliament, analyzes and evaluates the issue then finally presents the solution (Mwakikagile, 2001). In this way, he allows his workmates to participate fully in what they were positioned to do, although he has the final decision. He is not self-centered and this is true because he never changed the former Kenya’s currency to display his image, he neither has no building or learning institution by his name neither dictate what to be published nor takes part in what to be viewed or aired. Compared to autocratic, democratic style of leadership is greatly effective for most people become empowered and perform well in their ranked position thus acquiring improved and better skills. Though known to take a longer period of time to attain whole involvement of members, its final product is rewarding (Adizes, 2004). Autocratic leadership style on the other hand denies freedom to the members, no decision making or participating in anyway, the leader retains power and he holds the highest authority of making decision, he directs what to be done how when and where (Mbugua, 2003). Its results are rarely rewarding for there is no motivation instead, the members receive threats and punishment from their leaders in order to work. In most cases, the leaders have no trust with their members (Ngujiti, Ong’aro & Mucoki, 2003). Bureaucratic leadership allows the leader to follow certain steps and protocols to enhance a process or the work at hand. It is mostly used when clients; need to fathom new laws or procedures, are using harmful materials or tools that needs a specific direction in order to function. References Adizes, I. 2004. Management/Mismanagement Styles. New York: The Adizes Institute Publishing. Central Intelligence Agency. 2009. CIA World Factbook 2010. New York: Skyhorse Publishing Inc. Mwakikagile, G. 2001. Ethnic politics in Kenya and Nigeria. New York: Nova Publishers. Mbugua, N. 2003. Mwai Kiaki: economist for Kenya. Nairobi: Sasa Sema Publications. Ngujiti, N., Ong’aro, W. & Mucoki, M. 2003. President Mwai Kibaki: the long and bumpy road to State House. New York: Immediate Media Services. Read More