By Allan Olingo
With barely a month to the election year, the coin is about to be tossed to determine who will become Kenya’s next President.
Attention has been focused on the many politicians angling to succeed President Kibaki to become the fourth president with little thought being paid to the spouses of the possible winners.
Who will be the lucky woman who occupies State House after Lucy Kibaki?
Whoever becomes the first lady will not just be a flower at State House but will have roles to play and expectations to fulfil. Her position also comes with a large wage bill for the taxpayer. Going by what the current First Lady gets in allowances, she will expect to pocket about Sh720,000 a month.
She will also be expected influence the nature of the presidency for the better or worse. She could become a darling of the masses or a hate figure like Simone, wife of former Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo, who was accused of encouraging her husband not to relinquish power even after being soundly defeated in a democratic election.
Charitable activities
Professor Macharia Munene, who teaches political science at the United States International University, says that when it comes to first ladies, it all depends on their intelligence and style in taking up their social position.
"She has to be a person of great ideas who would be able to advise the husband on various issues. It is up to each spouse to carry herself in a dignified manner," says Prof Munene.
He adds: "It is good to have someone who appears to care and that is why most spouses of these presidential aspirants get involved in charitable activities."
A good example is how Lucy Kibaki managed to cut a profile for herself by getting immersed in various humanitarian activities, which have helped portray a positive image of the first family.
Professor Munene adds that first ladies who play exemplary roles can transit into active political leadership.
"For instance, some first ladies like Hilary Clinton influenced policy issues and amassed political clout which they later used to pursue political office," he says.
In Kenya, the role of first lady was ill defined during previous regimes but during the tenure of President Kibaki it has started gaining relevance through the role played by Mrs Kibaki.
Over the years, many unique women have played the role of first lady in various countries all over the world. While some preferred to remain in the background, others used the position to champion causes beneficial to the public.
African first ladies play a less prominent role than their counterparts in countries like the United States where they are larger than life and their lifestyles are the focus of the media.
Among the first ladies who have exerted the most influence on the presidency in recent times was Nancy Reagan, wife of the late US President Ronald Reagan. She writes in her memoirs that after an attempted assassination in 1981 when he was shot and wounded, "I felt panicky every time (Ronald) left the White House."
She made it her business to know her husband’s schedule, the events he would be attending and with whom.
Eventually, this protectiveness led her to consult an astrologer who offered insight on which days were ‘good’, ‘neutral’ or should be avoided, which influenced her husband’s White House schedule.
This often created friction with White House staff to the extent that Reagan’s Chief of Staff, Donald Reagan, had to resign after an incident with the first lady.
During the presidency of Bill Clinton, his wife Hillary, now the Secretary for State, was involved in directing policy, especially in issues that dealt with healthcare. At one point, she was appointed to head a taskforce on national healthcare reform in America. Further, she contributed to important legislation like the Adoption and Safe Families Act.
In a few countries on the African continent, some first ladies have made political gains using their involvement in charity as a springboard.
For example in Uganda, the wife of president Yoweri Museveni, Janet, used her position to catapult herself into politics. Mrs Museveni was elected an MP and ultimately got appointed by her husband a cabinet minister.
Unlike Mrs Museveni, other first ladies in Africa have limited themselves to charitable activities.In Kenya, besides Lucy Kibaki, the wives of some prominent politicians who have an eye on the presidency have also been engaged in charity.
The wife of Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka has been active in directing the activities of the Kalonzo Musyoka Foundation.
Through this, she has supported people-driven causes not only within her husband’s home district but also in other parts of the country.
Political nature
Tessy Mudavadi, wife of Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, spearheads the Musalia Mudavadi Foundation, which also supports charitable causes.
In some countries, the way in which first ladies make use of their charitable activities reveals their barely-disguised political nature.
"Because this work confers a reputation for humanity, it not only strengthens their own position but also that of their husband. It is this fact which explains how charitable work has become politicised and used to gain political advantage," says author Hillary De Prince Polam in her book The Participation of African First Ladies in Politics.
The numerous benefits that come with this position serve to build up its symbolic role as, for example, in the award of titles such as honorary doctorates and ‘Woman of the Year’ titles.
With only a month to the onset of the election year, many politicians have declared interest in becoming the president.
Those leading the race are Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, Eldoret North MP William Ruto, Gichugu MP Martha Karua and Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth. DPM Musalia Mudavadi has also indicated that he would contest for the ODM nomination to run for the presidency. A late entrant into the race is former Cabinet minister Raphael Tuju.
Barring a win by Ms Karua, the following women are eligible to become first lady: Ida Odinga, Pauline Musyoka, Margaret Uhuru, Rachel Jebet Ruto, Tessy Mudavadi, Anne Kenneth and Mercy Tuju.
Another State House exit raises eyebrows
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