“They are old, way above 70 years, yet as energetic as it could ever get.”
When it comes to leadership and governance, experience, which comes with age, is considered a cornerstone. Is it true that the older a person gets, the more suitable they are for making great leaders?
Well, to shed light on this subject, Times Digital Kenya spotlights five seasoned politicians in Kenya who are already past 70 years old yet exemplify unparalleled tact and enthusiasm in their respective capacities.
Oburu Odinga, 82
Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga is one of the oldest currently serving politicians in Kenya. After his younger brother Raila Odinga died, Oburu Odinga, now 82, took over as the ODM party leader and has since been very active in politics.
Oburu is currently leading the ODM party as he negotiates with President William Ruto ahead of the 2027 general election, insisting that he will negotiate for powerful positions in the government.
James Orengo, 73
A long-time friend of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, a human rights activist, and a seasoned politician, James Orengo is the current governor of Siaya County.
In Kenya, his legal wit and competency are unmatched. It is not a surprise, therefore, that Orengo is among the few lawyers in Kenya to have attained the influential title of senior counsel, a professional grade that he earned under former President Mwai Kibaki.
In the by-election held in 1980, at only 29, Orengo was surprisingly elected as the Member of Parliament for Ugenya, making him the youngest MP in Kenya at the time.
In 1992, he was finally elected as the MP for Ugenya Constituency, where he served until 1997. Subsequently, he was re-elected again for another five years, serving until 2002.
After their controversial fallout in 2002, Orengo joined the Orange Democratic Movement party three years later, teaming up with his old friend Odinga in 2005.
Apart from serving as Kenya’s Minister of Lands from 2008 to 2012, Orengo has previously served as a senator for Siaya County.
Anyang Nyong’o, 78
Prof. Anyang Nyong’o is a Kenyan politician, author, and former secretary general of the Orange Democratic Movement. The professor is currently serving as the governor of Kisumu County.
Having served as a nominated MP since 1998, Nyong’o was elected as the Member of Parliament for Kisumu Rural constituency in 2002. Then, in 2007, he was subsequently re-elected to the National Assembly.
The Kisumu Governor l served as the Minister for Planning and National Development between 2003 and 2005, and from 2008 to 2013, he worked at the Ministry of Medical Services. Later Nyong’o was the Senator of Kisumu from 2013 to 2017.
In 2023, Nyong’o was appointed by Antonio Guterres to head the Advisory Group on Local and Regional Governments at the United Nations.
Kalonzo Musyoka-70
Kalonzo Musyoka is a career lawyer and seasoned politician from the eastern region of Kenya. In 1985, through by-elections, Musyoka became the Member of Parliament for Kitui North at the age of 32.
A year later, in 1986, he was appointed Assistant Minister for Works, Housing, and Physical Planning, where he served until 1988.
In 1988, Musyoka was officially elected to Parliament, where he served as deputy speaker, a stint that ended in 1992.
In 2008, Musyoka served as the vice president of Kenya as well as the Minister of Home Affairs under President Kibaki’s tenure.
For the 2017 general election, Musyoka teamed up with ODM’s Raila Odinga as his running mate against President Kenyatta. They lost to the incumbent.
In the 2022 elections, Musyoka dropped his presidential bid to support Azimio la Umoja candidate Raila Odinga. Again, they lost to William Ruto, the current president of Kenya.
Kalonzo is one of the leading opposition leaders seeking to unseat President William Ruto, banking on his vast leadership experience that spans at least four decades.
Wycliffe Oparanya, 70
Born in the 1950s, Wycliffe Oparanya is a professional economist and politician who is the current deputy leader of the Orange Democratic Movement.
Following the 2010 promulgation of the Constitution of Kenya, Oparanya became the pioneering governor of Kakamega County in 2013. Subsequently, he was re-elected in 2017 for his second term as governor.
Under the helm of the late President Mwai Kibaki, Oparanya served as the Minister of State Planning, National Development, and Vision 2030.
In 2019, Oparanya was appointed to chair Kenya’s Council of Governors. He is currently serving as the Cabinet Secretary for Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Development, in President William Ruto’s administration.
Conclusion
Does the age of an individual determine their leadership capacity?
“In the case of older politicians, their greatest asset is not the wisdom that comes with age but the composure that comes with experience. Their steadiness makes older politicians especially valuable in times of crisis, when less experienced leaders may lose their heads.” – Plutarch
