Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has named several leaders he considers role models, including Patrick Lumumba, Thomas Sankara, Masinde Muliro, Raila Odinga and Angela Merkel.
Speaking from his office on Monday, Natembeya pointed to the portraits displayed on his wall, saying they represented leaders whose contributions and legacies he admires.
“These are my role models,” he said, before referring to the achievements of the figures whose portraits he had displayed.
Natembeya also spoke about Merkel, the former German Chancellor, recalling an occasion when people across Germany reportedly applauded her for several minutes.
He cited the episode while describing the kind of leadership he admires, and the impact leaders can have on the people they serve.
His remarks focused on the leaders he had chosen to display and the qualities he associates with their leadership.
The governor also referred to Masinde Muliro and Raila Odinga, two prominent figures in Kenya’s political history, among the people whose legacies he recognises.
Natembeya’s comments offered a glimpse into the political figures and leadership examples he draws inspiration from, as reflected in the portraits displayed in his office.
The leaders named by Natembeya have served in different political and historical contexts, with several associated with political reform, national independence and public leadership.
Thomas Sankara was President of Burkina Faso from 1983 until his assassination in 1987. He became known for his Pan-Africanist politics and policies aimed at reducing the country's dependence on foreign assistance and promoting social and economic reforms.
Masinde Muliro was a Kenyan politician who participated in the country's independence-era politics and later campaigned for the restoration of multiparty democracy.
In 1989, he joined other opposition figures in establishing the Forum for the Restoration of Democracy (FORD), which pushed for political pluralism during former President Daniel arap Moi's administration. The campaign preceded the restoration of multiparty politics in 1991.
Raila Odinga was a former Prime Minister of Kenya who became a prominent opposition leader and advocate of multiparty democracy and constitutional reform.
He was detained during the Moi administration and later took part in campaigns for political change. He served as Prime Minister from 2008 to 2013 under the power-sharing arrangement established after the disputed 2007 presidential election. He was also a key figure in the political process that led to the 2010 Constitution.
Angela Merkel served as Chancellor of Germany from 2005 to 2021, becoming the country's first woman to hold the office. Her tenure covered major events in European and global politics, including the eurozone debt crisis, the migration crisis of 2015 and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Natembeya recalled an occasion when Germans applauded Merkel for several minutes, saying the whole country joined in the applause wherever people were.
He cited the episode while describing the kind of leadership he admires and the impact leaders can have on the people they serve.
