ABSTRACT
This chapter examines alternative models of power beyond concepts such as that of the “big man,” which overtly focus on male leadership. This is done by exploring the biographies and life histories of three women: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Leymah Gbowee, and Wangari Maathai. The chapter proposes that a shift toward a more inclusive model of political leadership may counter the present culture of male-dominated African leadership. It argues that the inclusion of more female political leaders and the incorporation of qualities associated with female leadership, such as motherhood and sisterhood, offer fruitful ways to bring about a shift in the culture of leadership across the continent. African feminist theories will be used as a lens to understand the political experiences these women went through, and to understand the styles of leadership they developed. The chapter offers alternative reflections on the study and conceptualization of leadership that accounts for female agency. Recommendations on how African feminism can be used to generate new perceptions of Kenyan and African women are provided in the conclusion.
