JAMILA'S MEMO: Hey leaders, do you listen?

Tonight, my Memo is about listening - kusikiliza. Someone once said that the Almighty gave us two ears and one mouth so that we can listen more and speak less.

It is through listening that we can give an appropriate answer. It is through keen listening that we can provide solutions. And it is through active listening that we can identify problems and find solutions.

For those in positions of authority, whether as a manager in a company or as a national leader, listening is an essential part of leadership. How else will you know what people think or how they feel about your leadership and decisions?

Sometimes, as a leader, you may find it challenging to hear what people truly think—perhaps because they are afraid to speak up. That is why it is crucial to have competent people around you—individuals who can listen on your behalf and relay the truth to you.

It is equally important to listen to those you trust to advise you. Oh, a quick question—are those around you in those positions because they are truly competent, or are they merely political appointees? Just a thought...

But when people’s views are completely ignored, I believe that a leader has failed. What are you really solving if your focus is solely on your own agenda?

For instance, we may not need a road in a certain area—instead, we might need a new school. But because you are not listening, you build a road that does not benefit us—perhaps because you stand to gain from the construction contract.

Or consider the new health insurance scheme—we are telling you that it is not working for the people, that it has made our situation worse than before. Yet, the same response keeps coming: "Register—it will work for you."

Even at funerals, we hear the same call: "Register, it will work, give it time." What more time should we give? Are you telling us our sickness should pause to allow SHA time to work? Why are you not listening to us? Things are being forced down people’s throats—threats and intimidation, kulazimishwa. For what reason? If you truly listened, you would know—iko shida.

What is your purpose as a leader? You made promises when we elected you—whether at the ward, constituency, county, or national level. You said our lives would be better under your leadership.

Back then, you were listening and making promises that made sense. On election day, we queued for hours even before the polling stations opened because we believed it was finally our time for good leadership—a leader who listens, offers solutions, and delivers on promises.

But then came the disappointment—nothing that was promised has been fulfilled. Things are worse, mpaka tunajiuliza ni sisi wazimu, ama ni kweli tuliahidiwa mambo kadhaa? Instead, now we see more promises—empty promises—ahadi hewa.

What are people supposed to do when their trust has been betrayed? What happens when their faith in leadership has been shattered? It seems there is no end in sight to the cycle of frustration that citizens find themselves trapped in.

My advice? Buckle up—mambo bado. This cycle will repeat itself, as it always has. Why? Because, as usual, the listening stopped the moment the swearing-in ceremony ended.