Let’s face it. One of the reasons Barrack Obama’s presidency connected with the public was the way his team used pictures to tell the story of his presidency. The one thread that is common with all these photos was his pose and demeanor and that of the other people in those pictures.

Indeed, this is what people frequently analyzed either consciously or unconsciously. This is because it appears that Barrack Obama was a great student of body language and it is apparent in his photo journey, particularly during the second term of his presidency that he applied his lessons very well. To the point that it became natural.

The result is that connection that he made with viewers, particularly on the social media platforms where many of these photos quickly went viral.

Kenyan Politics

Body language has always been a subject of discussion for leaders, especially politicians who are always in the public eye. In Kenyan politics this is one area that is increasingly being scrutinized and will form interesting lessons in the build up to the 2017 general election. The body language of politicians and other government officials will most often be portrayed in video footage. But therein lies an excellent opportunity for photographers to display their work for enhanced analysis and discourse.

Whether it is during a public address event, studio TV interview or providing off the cuff remarks, those who are aspiring for office will come under intense scrutiny. When the audience will be paying attention to their words, they will picking cues from their body language.

Presidential, gubernatorial and senatorial aspirants in particular will be hard pressed to ensure that their body language reinforces their verbal messages. They will be in different situations that call for a variety of poses and demeanor. When campaigning, they will need to display a mastery of the body language of an authority. With children, medically ill and in the company of people befallen by misfortune, their body language must portray empathy.

Governors and the recent doctors’ strike

Of great interest will be those aspiring to be Governors of Nairobi County. Already, the key protagonists, Peter Kenneth and Evans Kidero are campaigning. Their body language, pose and demeanor in public makes for interesting observation. One image that has been going round on social media shows Peter Kenneth picking his pose during a public function while more recent separate video footage show him speaking to journalists while slouched in a seat. On the other hand Kidero is recently shown holding a child while smiling and observing the baby from a slight distance, almost looking unused to doing it.

One of the recent enduring images was from the just ended doctors’ strike in which in my view both the union leadership and the government officials’ body language completely displayed a lack of empathy with suffering patients. The union officials would smile during media briefings, and even when temporarily incarcerated, while the faces of the Cabinet Secretary for Health and his Permanent Secretary would show anger and frustration with the strike situation.

As a result both the doctors and the public were unable to completely convince the public of each side’s arguments, even after providing information in various forms thus interest generally waned and most people sought for alternative treatment.

It then appears that Kenya’s leaders have a lot of work cut out for them to learn, practice and master their body language to ensure that they connect with their audiences at all times.