“One of the great liabilities of history is that all too many people fail to remain awake through great periods of social change. Every society has its protectors of status quo and its fraternities of the indifferent who are notorious for sleeping through revolutions. Today, our very survival depends on our ability to stay awake, to adjust to new ideas, to remain vigilant and to face the challenge of change.” — Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Meet Christopher Alvin Mokaya who was born thirty years ago and is currently vying for the Nairobi gubernatorial seat. He went to Gikomoni Primary School before proceeding to Joy Villa Primary School. He was admitted to Sunshine Secondary School but couldn’t afford the fee. He opted to join Dima Secondary School and later transferred to Dagoretti High School. After high school, he went to a teachers training college and then went to Africa Nazarene University for his Bachelor of Education degree. He is currently pursuing a masters in Business Administration.
‘My leadership journey started when I was young. I was a prefect in both primary and high school. At the International Teachers Training college, I headed various departments within the student body,’ he says
In 2016, he was inducted as the leader of the education chapter at the Africa Nazarene University. He is passionate about the environment. He founded the Green Borderless Movement. The aim is to sensitize people on matters such as importance of planting trees and conserving water. He hopes to walk in the footsteps of the late Professor Wangari Maathai who worked tirelessly for clean and healthy environment. Prof. Maathai was the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace. They also use online platforms to pass messages about environmental conservation.
He has also been lecturing at the International Teachers Training College. He also tutors at Appleton E.C.D. ‘I also give motivational talks to young people and mentor them spiritually through bible studies. It is important to ensure adolescents engage in activities that build them,’ he notes.
‘Plato said that the failure to participate in politics makes us to be governed by those who are inferior to us. Therefore, it is important for credible people to come out and step into leadership. Let us not sell our right to be governed by those who do not have integrity,’ he reflects. Alvin notes that most people do not respect Chapter 6 of the Constitution of Kenya [2010] which talks of leadership and integrity. He says that it is important to have leaders who are honest, promote peace and allow accountability to be a culture in our country.
Alvin says that leadership is tough especially when you do not have the financial resources. However, he encourages more young people to get into positions of leadership and be responsible for their own country. Genuine leadership however does not need money and he talks of Barack Obama, former president of the United States of America who had policies that the people believed in. Alvin explains that the only way to have good leaders is to believe in the good cause that they are championing.
‘If I was to have a chat with the President of Kenya today, I would urge him to ensure that there are more centres for youth to be trained on technical skills so that they can start sustainable ventures to earn a living. It is important to teach people how to fish and not just give them fish for free,’ Alvin emphasizes.
As President Obama left office, he said that his major obligation is to be a good citizen. Alvin notes that there are various aspects of good citizenship. The most important thing is to be patriotic. You cannot replace your country no matter where you go and that you shouldn’t expect to be paid to be patriotic. He also says that young people should ask themselves what they can do to make their country better. Corruption denies people the opportunities that they deserve and he therefore urges young people to avoid instances of corruption and report perpetrators of vices that destroy our country. We must learn to protect each other.
‘Some Kenyan youth unfortunately rely on get rich quick scams. This is unfortunate because there are so many opportunities for young people as long as they reach out to them. They need to learn how to nurture business ideas with patience. They should look online for all opportunities that they can reach out. They can even participate in the recently launched Ajira Digital Scheme to earn a living,’ he says. Responsibility is key for any Kenyan youth.
Alvin concludes by saying that he knows he is a leader even without a title. He understands that he must only serve and be willing to improve the lives of others without expecting anything in return. ‘Like the late Professor Maathai, my little thing is to ceaselessly aspire to do something good in the society. I am a proponent of servant leadership,’ he stresses on that fact.
Given opportunity, the African youth can bring about positive impact in society. Most proponents of leadership are young people and Alvin gives the example of Julius Malema of South Africa who is urging leaders to be accountable. He therefore wants to be a leader to reckon with in the African continent.