The tenure of district mayors, typically five-year terms, will come to an end in October this year, marking the beginning of a new electoral fresh cycle. The National Electoral Commission is yet to announce the timeline and modalities of the mayoral elections pending legal reforms and cabinet approval. Under the current electoral framework, mayors serve five-year terms, renewable only once. With the upcoming elections, incumbents re-elected in 2021 will not be eligible to run again. Those currently serving their first term may seek re-election, though renewal is far from guaranteed. But the real test should go beyond eligibility. It must be about identifying leaders who are genuinely prepared and fully committed to serve the interests of citizens. Public leaders are ultimately judged by what they deliver, and how well they fulfill the promises they make. Yet too often, once in office, some settle for the bare minimum. This disconnect between leaders and the people they serve frequently shows up in familiar ways: persistent citizen complaints, delays in delivering essential services, and a culture of negligence and bureaucracy. For a country with ambitious priorities and a clear commitment to placing citizens at the center of service delivery, this is a risk we cannot afford. Leadership must not only be about holding office, but about delivering results with integrity. As we approach local elections, accountability must be non-negotiable for anyone seeking public office. This requires stronger systems of checks and balances, clear and accessible channels for citizens to raise complaints, and a shift toward performance-based leadership—where officials are assessed against clear, measurable targets. Equally important is ensuring that citizens are informed, empowered, and able to exercise their rights. Accountability must also be enforced. Failures that are exposed should not be ignored. Institutions that consistently appear in the Auditor General’s reports for mismanagement must face sustained scrutiny, and justice institutions must act decisively, promptly, and without exception. Only then can public leadership truly reflect the trust and expectations of the citizens it is meant to serve.
