For the eight months he has been in office, President William Ruto has ably stamped his presence on the global scene especially on the African continent.

He has spoken his mind and heart loudly, expounding his standpoints on global geopolitics.

From the United Nations through the Commonwealth to the African Union, East African Community and the continental parliamentary setting, Ruto has stated his position on crucial matters that require a voice and reason. He has argued his case on environment and climate change, global trading patterns, financial lending and investments, the war in Ukraine and strife in Sudan.

However, in many aspects, Ruto’s agility, steam and sound pronouncements seem to be a water drop in a desert. Few Heads of State in Africa are as ready and willing to address challenges afflicting the expansive land mass as Ruto does, leaving almost a lone voice in this part of the world.

He President might have to go a step further and trigger his colleagues on the continent into action.

Africa needs to get its politics right to get everything else right.

It is not possible for Africa to compete with the rest of the world economically and technologically in its current status of warfare, ignorance and corruption.

Drastic shift is required in the manner that Africa conducts its affairs.

Senegal and Sudan are the latest citations of primitive conflicts that only help to undermine peace, stability and democracy not only in their own countries but Africa as a whole.

There have for long been existing wars—some of them of a terrorist nature—in Ethiopia, Somalia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burkina Faso, Mali, Central African Republic, Niger, Chad, Libya, Nigeria, Mauritania, South Sudan and Guinea.

How possible can a continent grow when so many countries within it are in a state of warfare and consumed in acts of terrorism?

This is in addition to the despicable and dehumanising deaths witnessed in the Mediterranean Sea where immigrants attempt to cross to Europe every day but which no African leader, including our own Ruto, dares to speak about.

For six decades now since most of the African nations secured their independence, the countries cannot trade among themselves. Africa is afraid of democracy. Africa is afraid of elections. The incessant desire to avoid elections is what elicited the turmoil in most of the countries torn by strife at the moment.

Africa is bereft with corruption. Its leaders steal from the people: Sometimes they even steal from themselves and hide the ill-gotten wealth in Western capitals where they later trudge with begging bowels to borrow from the savings of taxpayers in those nations.

Africa is allergic to human rights. Dissenting opinions are curtailed with brutal force. Freedoms of press, association, worship, assembly, expression are muzzled.

Education, health and infrastructure are in tatters. Poverty reigns. Yet the political leaderships continue to loot from impoverished subjects.

This trend has to change.  Very fast. Energetic Ruto should step forward to cause this conversation among his peers. We cannot expect a continent in turmoil as Africa is now to be accommodated or respected at global negotiating tables. Something has to change.

President Ruto has more than once expressed his position at global and continental fora. He now has to have a conversation with African peers and convince them the continent will remain stagnant for many years unless it clears its political mess.

— The author is the Revise Editor with the People Daily.