Leadership is a privilege to better the lives of others. It is

Hear, O seekers of wisdom and stewards of destiny, the words of Mwai Kibaki, a leader who rose from the heart of Africa to guide his nation with patience and vision: “Leadership is a privilege to better the lives of others. It is not an opportunity to satisfy personal greed.” In this declaration lies a truth older than kings and empires — that power is not meant to serve the self, but to serve the people. For when a man is raised to lead, he is not crowned for his glory, but entrusted with the burdens, hopes, and dreams of those who follow. To forget this sacred duty is to turn the light of leadership into the fire of destruction.

Kibaki, the third President of Kenya, spoke these words as one who had seen both the promise and peril of power. He inherited a nation fractured by corruption and disillusionment, yet he believed that leadership could still be an instrument of renewal. He governed with restraint and reason, focusing not on personal gain but on public good — education, economy, and equality. To him, the privilege of leading was not to sit upon a throne, but to lift others from the dust. His words remind us that the true test of leadership is not how much one gains, but how much one gives.

The ancients, too, understood this sacred calling. Marcus Aurelius, emperor of Rome and philosopher of the soul, once wrote, “A man’s worth is measured by the worth of what he values.” He ruled not as a tyrant, but as a servant of justice. Amid the splendor of palaces and the power of legions, he remained humble, remembering always that his duty was to the people, not to himself. Like Kibaki, he knew that leadership is not ownership — it is guardianship. The crown rests not on the head of privilege, but upon the shoulders of responsibility.

But how easily, O listeners, do men forget this truth! History is scarred with those who sought power not to heal, but to hoard. They built monuments to themselves, feasted while their people starved, and used authority as a mirror for vanity rather than a vessel of virtue. Such men rise quickly but fall faster, for greed devours all it touches — the soul of the leader, the trust of the people, and the peace of the land. The tyrant may live in luxury for a time, but when the winds of truth blow, his empire collapses into dust.

Yet those who lead with compassion, humility, and purpose leave a legacy that no wealth can measure. Nelson Mandela, imprisoned for twenty-seven years, emerged not bitter but benevolent. When he became the leader of South Africa, he did not use his position to repay evil with evil, but to build a new foundation of forgiveness and unity. His leadership was not about revenge or riches, but about restoring dignity to millions. Like Kibaki, he saw power as a privilege, not a possession. Such is the greatness of true leaders — their names live not because of gold or title, but because of goodness.

O children of the future, let this be your inheritance: leadership is not a reward to be claimed, but a trust to be honored. If you are called to lead — in a family, a community, a company, or a nation — remember that others’ welfare must outweigh your own desire. Ask yourself each day, “Whose life did I make better today? Whose burden did I lighten? Whose voice did I hear?” The leader who forgets the people loses his humanity; but the one who serves them finds immortality in their gratitude.

Beware the poison of greed, for it begins as a whisper and ends as a chain. When ambition calls you, let service answer first. When success tempts you, let humility guard your heart. For power is a flame — it can illuminate or it can consume. Use it not to warm yourself alone, but to bring light to others. In that act of selflessness, you will find not only greatness but peace.

So remember always the wisdom of Mwai Kibaki: “Leadership is a privilege to better the lives of others.” The throne of a true leader is not made of gold or stone, but of trust and compassion. Let your hands build, not take; let your words heal, not harm; let your actions uplift, not oppress. Then your leadership will not fade with time, for it will live in the hearts of those you have served — a living flame of hope, passed down through generations, burning brightly long after you are gone.