Age and Gender as Key Components of Africa`s Future Leadership
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27 February 2009: Age and Gender as Key Components of Africa’s Future Leadership
The election of US President Barack Obama has been one of the most inspiring occurrences in recent times. President Obama’s campaign philosophy ‘Yes we can’ will continue to give hope to aspiring leaders, especially in Africa, for a long time to come. To a large extent, this could mean that potential leaders who may have feared being pushed sideways, are likely to overcome self-afflicted limitations in an environment where most political leaders are senior citizens. A case in point is Kenya’s former President Daniel arap Moi and President Mwai Kibaki.
Also, Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni may have ascended the throne while still youthful in 1986 but not anymore. A Constitutional Amendment was made in 2006 lifting term-limits in a country where the opposition is far from being strong enough to win an election. Even though President Museveni stands a chance of being re-elected in the next general election to be held in 2011, chances could also be good for a youthful leader emerging to take over. This will be based on the argument that a new crop of leaders are likely to emerge thanks to the momentum created by Obama’s victory.
In Kenya, the political scenario will be closely watched over the next four years in the build-up to the 2012 general election. The formation of the Grand Coalition that ended post election violence last year gave hope to the citizenry. On the election platform, the three key parties; the Party of National Unity (PNU), the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and ODM-Kenya promised substantive changes to the country.
Considering that all the three parties joined together to form the coalition government, expectations from among the electorate must have been very high. Recent political developments in the country relating to corruption and the failure of the justice system have been contrary to these high expectations. Discontentment coupled with high cost of living and inflation could to a large extent lead to a third force constituting a new crop of leadership.
In addition to the political intrigues in Kenya, the Minister of Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs, Martha Karua already declared her intentions to pursue the presidency in the 2012 general election. Her declaration has been met by mixed reactions with some politicians dismissing her intentions as being opportunistic considering that the next general election is still far off in 2012 and they also have their eyes set on the presidency post Kibaki era. Meanwhile, others seem to be supporting a female candidacy. Some of Karua’s opponents observed that Kenya is ‘not yet ready for female leadership.’ The question that comes to mind is what the country needs to do to be ready for female leadership?
To underscore the perspective of gender and age as key components of Africa’s future leadership, needless to point that grounds have already been laid by President Obama’s election. Arguably, those who may have doubted his charisma had to eat humble pie. Similarly, time will tell if the old-school mentality will prevail over the inevitable winds of change - not only in Africa but elsewhere in the global village.
Already in 2005, the election of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf in Liberia gave hope for more women in powerful positions in Africa. Her election remains a great inspiration to female leaders on the continent. Even though her main opponent in the 2005 elections was younger and popular, she was declared president-elect with a margin of almost 20 per cent by National Elections Commission against former soccer player George Weah. As has been the norm and not exception in Africa, the observers at the electoral process declared the vote to be free, fair and transparent.
It is likely that the presidency of Johnson-Sirleaf and of Obama will in a great way inspire new leadership in Africa favouring gender and age. The argument for more openness in leadership is strengthened by the fact that in most African countries, youth under the age of 30 make up the majority of the population. These voters are open to change and are not limited by inclinations of gender, age or ethnicity.
Augusta Muchai, PSP-Mifugo Programme Head, ISS Nairobi Office
