Chinese President Xi Jinping during the celebrations of the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China /XINHUA/XIE HUANCHI
A short video from one of the Chinese TV stations on the first day of this year showed the flag-raising ceremony in a military procession at Tiananmen Square in Beijing.
In the clip, many citizens held their national flags in their hands, tears rolling down their cheeks as they sang their national anthem.
It made me reminisce about what I saw at the same venue in 2019 during China’s 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
At that time, small children were singing the national anthem at the top of their lungs while crying.
When I asked one of our guides, I was told that Chinese people often shed tears when singing their national anthem because the flag reflects the struggles they have endured to become the world’s second-largest economy.
China is rich in history and culture, and none of its people have forgotten where they have come from.
Their past serves as a driving force for their efforts toward national prosperity.
They are constantly reminded that they were once oppressed, but under the leadership of Mao Zedong, they came together, overcame despots and built a spirit of unity that continues to help their country grow in its own unique way.
Under Deng Xiaoping, they embraced opening up reforms and with President Xi Jinping, they have become stronger in the global arena.
While the Chinese people draw on their history to propel their nation forward, supported by the government’s five-year plans, this year is especially significant for China as it works toward achieving its “Madein-China” goal.
This initiative aims to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers and promote self-sufficiency.
In contrast, when Raila Odinga, a candidate for the African Union Commission chairperson, attempted to base his 2022 bid on Kenya’s history and future direction, the elite class ridiculed him, claiming that they were uninterested in the country’s past.
Positioning itself as the “free world” of Africa, Kenya is increasingly abandoning its culture and embracing the ways of its colonial oppressors.
This imitation of foreign governance styles is eroding the social fabric of our society.
If both leaders and citizens fail to reflect on where things went wrong, there may be no country left for future generations.
One clear sign of the waning patriotism in Kenya is the way people now behave when the national flag is raised or lowered.
When I was growing up, no one would walk when the flag was being raised or lowered, but nowadays, many Kenyans don’t stand at attention during these ceremonies.
I wouldn’t be surprised if most Kenyans no longer know all the stanzas of the national anthem or the loyalty pledge.
While some blame social media for the erosion of our societal fabric, I believe the real issue is that the political class has misled citizens for years. During elections, leaders promise transformative agendas for the country, but after being sworn in, these promises are often forgotten.
When leaders fail to meet the expectations of the electorate, it breeds distrust, which has contributed to the current situation in Kenya. Just as the Communist Party of China tailors policies to benefit the people, starting from local party offices, Kenya could learn valuable lessons from China’s leadership model.
A government cannot succeed if there is a disconnect between its leaders and citizens. Article 1 of the Constitution declares that all sovereign power belongs to the people, which they delegate to leaders through elections.
In China, citizens have great faith in their government because the leadership has worked tirelessly to improve their lives.
This reflects a government that is accountable to its people.
The Communist Chinese achieved their goal after roughly 25 years of struggle in 1949 and became a global force to be reckoned with.
They are now the envy of nations that were once more powerful and the inspiration of countries that feel exploited.
China’s economic rise was driven by strong political leadership. From 1949 to 1976, China was primarily an agricultural country, with 82.6 per cent of its population living in rural poverty.
However, within just over four decades, China’s economy flourished.
It now boasts the world’s largest manufacturing sector by added value, producing about 15 million formal sector jobs annually, with an unemployment rate below three percent.
Education access has dramatically improved, reducing illiteracy from more than 30 per cent to below three percent in just 40 years.
For any country to industrialise and grow economically, it requires focused, ethical and patriotic leadership.
A nation with a self-serving and unfocused political class cannot achieve sustainable growth.
After the CPC addressed its domestic issues, China became a beacon of hope for many countries in the Global South.
Its identification with anti-imperialist sentiment and resistance to the arrogance of the Western powers has made it a symbol of strength.
While reorganising its economy for self-sufficiency and avoiding dependency, China focused on supporting its vast population. From China’s governance model, it is clear that when the government and the people work together, a country can achieve tremendous progress.
If Kenya adopts similar
leadership principles, we could
also overcome our challenges and
become a prosperous nation like
China
