So today I was supposed to finally be in the same room with my preferred presidential candidate. But it didn’t happen. Peter Kenneth was a no show. And this we were learning at around 7:45 pm after waiting for about an hour and a half. Enough guys in that room were not amused to say the least.
Let me start at the beginning. Rotaract Club of Nairobi Central of which I am an alumni had invited Peter Kenneth to speak at their club meeting happening today. Rotaract is a junior club of Rotary for those who don’t know what Rotaract is. Only that Rotaract is for youth aged between 18 and 30 and Rotary is for the ages 18 to infinity. Anyway Rotaract is Rotary in action. Its mandate is to develop young leaders for the community. It advocates for professional development of the members, service to the community, fundraising to raise money to run community projects, international service which means it liases with other Rotaract clubs and like minded community service clubs both locally and internationally, and club service which is networking and team building so as to form a core tight knit group that plays and serves together.
My former club, Rotaract Club of Nairobi Central, (who by the way I credit with a lot of my leadership and professional development) had invited Peter Kenneth. He was to speak on his personal journey. It was supposed to give us insights on his personal journey from humble beginnings to how he became an MP and all the career changes in between. So guys were very excited. Many people are curious about Peter Kenneth. They wanted to know what he intends for the youth and why we should vote for him. I had also wanted to get quotes from his talk that I was going to do about why I am going to vote for Peter Kenneth. Now that is on hold for now. As they say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
This event had been hyped. Invitations were even issued to other Rotaract clubs and Rotary Clubs. A little background on rotaractors. Most rotaractors are working, they have either gone to college or university, or are currently in university. They are professionals in different fields. With Rotaract there is a lot of expose at both the local and international stage. Also with Rotarians being some of the leading industrialists, lawyers, bankers, diplomats etc Rotaractors have gotten exposure to dealing with powerful people. So no one was coming to ask Peter Kenneth for handouts or for jobs. Guys wanted to come, listen to the words of a man they admire and then ask questions. The best kind of audience; young, educated, and well informed people.
We understand Peter Kenneth is a very busy man. He was actually signing an agreement with Tuju today which I for one applauded. If he had made one with Mudavadi I and many others I know would have not voted for him. We don’t want recycled leaders with scandals that never end. Anyway I digress from the issue.
So it would have been understandable if Peter Kenneth had told Rotaract early that he wouldn’t be able to make it. He didn’t. Then to make things worse somebody spotted him on the 3rd or was it 4th floor of the Laico Regency which is the hotel we were at, only on the first floor. This was around 6 PM. Apparently he called and said then that he would come at 7:00 pm and we accepted to wait. Then he didn’t show up at all. So now imagine how guys are feeling. He is in the same building and he can’t be bothered to even come down and say hi. Just that. We didn’t want anything from him. He offered apparently to send a representative but the president of the club said no. We had gone there to meet Peter Kenneth not a representative. It’s like sending a stunt (dancing) double of Michael Jackson (RIP) to dance like MJ. It’s not the same. The magic, the moments that you are looking for are not there. People left work early or school where they should have been reading for exams to come see you and you bounce them. As somebody said we could have been in a bar or at home by now watching TV.
Anyway Peter Kenneth hope you read this and know that there are very many young people who were not happy with you today. Those rotaractors, Rotarians, guests, and alumni are leaders, opinion leaders in their spheres of influence. They are also young. The people you are targeting to take you to the presidency. When you show them that you do not value their time it sends them a message which they then take to their spheres of influence. So those votes of the undecided you could have picked up today you have lost. And for those of us who are young and support you it made us question your commitment to the youth. As I said we know you are busy but we are busy too. So if you want us to respect you, your time, and your message, respect ours too.
Many of us are not looking to meet you to know what’s in it for us. If we wanted that, we would vote along tribal lines. You are the first politician to be invited for such a session and it showed the esteem to which you were held as an example for the youth. As they say split milk cannot be returned to the gourd so that is gone. But please in the future please if you make a date with the youth keep it.
PS. I do have to say that Peter Kenneth did reply to a tweet I sent him about how disappointed I was.
Rayhab Gachango @potentash
Very disappointed @peter_kenneth cancelled without notice speaking to rotaractors.Missed out speaking to opinion leaders among the youth
Munuhe Josef @jmunuhe
@potentash I was equally disappointed by @peter_kenneth for not coming through. Sadly to hear he shied away. What happened to #courage?
Waithera Kibinda @YthesYaar @potentash that is sad. Guess he was busy making deals. But let grace abide i am sure he will make up for it cc @peter_kenneth
Rayhab Gachango @potentash
By the way your sis was there. @ythesyaar Btw there were around 200 youth all leaders now not in the making @peter_kenneth
Peter Kenneth @Peter_Kenneth
@YthesYaar @potentash Sorry guys, I will make up
Charles Mwakio @mwakiocharles
@potentash @peter_kenneth @ythesyaar #PK leo hakuwesmake for the function ya #Rotaract
Waithera Kibinda @YthesYaar
*ladies, told u he would make it up* RT @Peter_Kenneth @potentash Sorry guys, I will make up cc @nakshim
I don’t know how P. K. will make it up because I doubt guys will agree to come again to meet him. Peter Kenneth wish you the best with that.
Finished my ramblings. Annoyance imeisha kiasi. As you were.
To find out more about Rotaract and Rotaract Club of Nairobi Central go here.
Correction on 7th December 2012.
PS. I stated earlier in this post that somebody said they may have spotted him at Laico on the 3rd Floor. Peter Kenneth has made the clarification that he wasn’t actually at the Laico he was at his office in Upper Hill at the time.
