JAMILA'S MEMO: Wantam, Tutam - London lessons

On my memo tonight, Wantam, Tutam, three terms, four terms, forever terms.

In Kenya, we have become obsessed with how long leaders should stay in office. But the United Kingdom offers a little shock therapy for Kenyan politicians.

This week, Sir Keir Starmer announced he is stepping down as Labour Party leader and Prime Minister after less than two years in office, setting in motion yet another leadership transition in Britain.

Think about it. Within one Kenyan presidential term of five years, the United Kingdom has had four Prime Ministers. Boris Johnson came and went. Liz Truss came and, after only 49 days, she was gone. Rishi Sunak served for about 20 months before losing office. Now Keir Starmer is on his way out.

Remember, unlike Kenya, the British Prime Minister has no constitutional term limits. Hakuna Wantam. Hakuna Tutam. Hakuna two-term limit. In fact, if your party keeps confidence in you and the public keeps electing your party, you could theoretically serve for 20 years.

Yet here is the interesting part. By the time we finish arguing about Wantam and Tutam, Britain has already changed another Prime Minister.

Hakuna mtu anakufa, hakuna anayetishwa. Unaingia. Ukiondoka, unaondoka. Na maisha yanaendelea.

Because in mature democracies, leadership is not measured by how much time remains on the calendar. It is measured by the viability of your ideas. Your ideas determine how long your political life lasts.

Liz Truss did not leave because her term expired. Her ideas expired.

On the other hand, Margaret Thatcher served for 11 years. Tony Blair also served for about a decade. Not because the Constitution guaranteed them those years, but because they continued to enjoy political support.

Fellow Kenyans, that is what demystifying leadership looks like.

That is why, for me, the endless debate about Wantam, Tutam, three terms or forever terms sometimes misses the point.

Our Constitution sets an upper limit of two terms of five years each. It does not guarantee anyone 10 years. Five years is not a right. It is an opportunity.

If a leader loses the confidence of the people before then, history has shown that leadership can change. If a leader performs well enough, the people can renew that mandate for a second and final term.

Then our Constitution politely steps in and says: "Asante sana."

Perhaps the biggest lesson from the UK is this: Leadership changes do not have to be dramatic. They can be peaceful, orderly and constitutional.

Unaingia kama kawaida. Unaondoka kama kawaida. Na demokrasia inaendelea.

Maybe, just maybe, instead of spending all our energy debating Wantam and Tutam, we should spend more time asking a much more important question:

And that is my memo.