Mining billionaire Patrice Motsepe of South Africa yesterday announced that he would give half his family's fortune to charity, becoming the first African to march a pledge made by the two richest men in the world--Bill Gates and Warren Buffet.

Motsepe whose worth is estimated to be Sh229 billion pledged to give half of this money and any other generated by his family in perpetuity to charity to help "poor and other disadvantaged and marginalized South Africans.

While there may not be many Kenyans who can march Motsepe's philanthropic act, there are quite a few Kenyans who can and should emulate his action.

It is disconcerting that it is only when such Kenyans die that their worth becomes known-- most times because family members cannot agree on how to share the wealth!

Some would argue that it is not a "Kenyan" or "African' thing to do. But what better legacy than to have your good works remembered long after you and your progeny are gone?

Let our leaders take a clue from Motsepe and instead of bickering over who has what, let them establish foundations to benefit the thousands who are now bewildered and confused by all the rhetoric being spewed on the campaign trials.

Quote of the day:"Hold fast to your dreams, for without them life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly." Langstone Hughes, an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright and columnist was born on February 1, 1902.