A speech by Professor Nimrod Bwibo (Chairman Maseno university council) for Kenya global Visionary Leaders Workshop, May 5th 2007.
Introduction
Mr. Chairman, distinguished participants, invited guests, ladies and gentlemen. It gives me pleasure to have been invited as the chief guest at this workshop. I thank the organizers for giving me this opportunity to address you. The topic of my speech is road map for upcoming role models and visionary leaders in developing your country.

Mr. Chairman i address these participants quite conscious that the road you wish to pursue to play a role in the development of your country is a road i know very well and i have walked along it and am still walking along it. It is a road full of challenges, full of valleys, full of hills and mountains. But as determined individuals to walk along this road and achieve some goals to help you in the development of your country. I salute and encourage you in your determination.

In my speech I will touch on several areas which include your early preparation to walk on this road. Past example of individuals who have walked on this road. The qualities you need to develop in order to succeed or achieve the desired effect of role models and visionary leaders. Public expectations of you and then opportunities you can play your role model and visionary leadership.

Early preparation to learn.
You all went to schools. In those schools you might have been selected or chosen top be school prefect, dormitory prefect, class monitor, club chairman, club secretary and club treasurer. This was the first responsibility outside the family for you to exercise the role of leadership. You must have had certain qualities that made those who selected you to do so. You might have been vocal, articulate or with good manners and self esteem that impressed people.

My question to you is that: Did you use the opportunity well? On performance score. Did you perform well according to expectations? If yes then this are some of those qualities that you are expected to continue with and improve on them on the long walk on this road of a role model and a leader. At the time you were for example class monitor your colleagues may have thought you were doing useless tedious work. But you were learning to get organized in life. There are similar early opportunities that occurred not at school but in the family set up if you happen to have had that opportunity. This gives you a chance to lead. I have a question: did you know those early leadership opportunities would follow you now? I can tell you that they will follow you a very long time.

I am such an example of a class monitor, a dormitory prefect, a class leader who eventually chairman of a development in medical school, a dean of faculty of medicine, principal of college of health sciences, a deputy vice chancellor, deputy director general AMREF and now chairman Maseno university council. I assure you that when you succeed once on that long road of leadership, leadership will follow you and will come in succession there after. Hence since you are beginning, you are currently on the road. I urge you to keep up. As they say the sky should be the limit. Do not set your limit low down. Aim high and you will reach there.

Past role models and visionary leaders.
History has plenty of information on past role models and visionary leaders who have not only developed their countries but have changed the face of the earth. Those are the martin Luther king, the Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, Tom Mboya, Joseph Mungai,Thomas odhiambo among others. Their legacies are still following them. Can you aim at what they were doing on a smaller scale? To this list put your remarkable schools principals, teachers, religious leaders who changed your life by instilling confidence and self-esteem in you. I hope you remember them. I do remember mine.

Current role models and visionary leaders.
We can make the list together. It includes our parents, our teachers and others who obviously instilled hope and dignity in our lives. Can we copy something from them? there was a programme on local channel Kenya broadcasting television(kbc TV) in which children would say I want to be a police woman or I want to be like my dad I ask whom do you want to be like?

Required qualities for role models and visionary leaders.
The following are qualities you should cultivate to be a role model and be a respected visionary leader. The list purposely long and includes:
Knowledge. Diligent. Commitment
Honesty. Dedication. Courteous
Good manners. Devotion. Respectful
Humility. Discipline. Availability
Understanding. Dignity. Efficiency
Wisdom. Determination. Selfless ness

The public expects you to be their shinning star and reachable. In your performance aim at achieving by satisfying people. Guiding people, leading the people to arrive to useful workable solutions.
You should be loaded with facts.

You should act wisely.
You should avoid empty promises and empty words.
You should know limitations and explain them clearly.
You should know how to set priorities.
But you should recognize and respect the views and strengths and expertise of others. In this regard learn to listen and learn.
Opportunities to play your role.
There are several opportunities for you to play your role model and visionary leadership. It can be in the field of business,
• Community development activities
• Education
• Religion
• Agricultural sector
• Administration
• Politics
When opportunity comes in these or any other areas:
• Learn to learn
• Set goals
• Develop knowledge base
• Select options
• Do what is possible
• Tackle with skills what appears impossible
• Aim at achieving all your set targets.
In so doing you will play significant role in the development of your country being a role model and visionary leader. And as the saying goes: leave your country a better place than you found it.

Thank you.
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Visionary leadership coordination team email:visionaryleadersf@yahoo.com
1. Workshop chairman and facilitator: Robin Abuyeka
2. Workshop organizing senior officials: Kennedy mwangi and David Mwere
3. Program assistant: Susan Wamuyu
4. Other Officials were Douglas Ouma and Betty Nthenya
5. Camera lady: grace nyagah
6. Advisory - Mr. Webuye