Futurelect East Africa Public Leadership Programme Seminar One: Reflections on a Strong Start

In February, 26 emerging leaders from across East Africa gathered at the KCB Leadership Centre in Nairobi, Kenya, to kick off the first seminar of Futurelect's East Africa Public Leadership Programme. The seminar served as the foundation for the year ahead, grounded in self-discovery, shared purpose and a commitment to ethical public leadership.

The Futurelect East Africa Public Leadership Programme’s second cohort gathers with the Futurelect team at the KCB Leadership Centre in Nairobi, marking the start of a leadership journey grounded in ethical public leadership.

For Natasha Kimani, Regional Director for East Africa, the launch of this second cohort carries real significance. "The quality of our cohort is evidence of our trust and belief in the transformation of our work," she said. "It signals another stage of growth for us: strengthening our mission and connecting more with like-minded individuals and organisations." The seminar brought together global speakers, which Natasha described as a further signal of Futurelect's growing credibility and trust in the region, and was attended by Futurelect’s East Africa Advisory Council members who came to support and welcome the fellows, reaffirming the programme's grounding in expert knowledge of governance and public policy.

Futurelect Founder and CEO Lindiwe Mazibuko (left) in conversation with Futurelect East Africa Regional Director Natasha Kimani (right) during a fireside chat with the cohort.

Reflecting on the fellows themselves, Natasha was clear about what stood out. "What stood out for me was their collective 'love for country'. Our fellows want to see young citizens thrive, and they realise the only way to do this is through ethical public leadership." There is, she noted, a deep understanding within the cohort that young East Africans, particularly women, have a role to play in shaping their countries' democratic futures that extends beyond any single moment. "While the first seminar framework is 'Why me? Why Us? Why now?', the underlying theme was 'Love for Country': a desire to dream of an East Africa where young and old citizens alike thrive. " What gives her the most confidence in their potential, she added, is that "they are so full of curiosity, passion and courage, and they are already doing incredible things within their communities and for their countries."

A particular highlight was the guest appearance of inaugural cohort alumni Cynthia Mwangi and Diing Deng Mou, who shared the impact the programme had had on their own leadership journeys. "Taking time out of their busy schedules to engage with our new cohort was the best evidence of the impact of our programme," Natasha said. "It was one of my highlights."

Alumni leaders Cynthia Mwangi (left) and Diing Deng Mou (right) join East Africa Regional Director Natasha Kimani (centre) to share their experiences and insights with the new cohort.

Maseke Rioba, Programmes Officer for East Africa, offered a view from inside the room. The seminar was built around the framework "Why me? Why us? Why now?", drawing on Marshall Ganz's concept of the Story of Self, Us, and Now. "The first seminar is intentionally designed as a space for personal exploration, where fellows trace how their life stories have led them to this moment of wanting to engage in public service, and articulate a clear sense of purpose," Maseke explained. "Beyond the personal, they are also prompted to think contextually: why does this moment in their country demand their intervention, and who do they hope to serve?"

Professor Ken Opalo (left) with cohort member Ally Baharoon (right) following the lecture, The Future of African Politics.

The seminar's design was itself informed by lessons from the first cohort. "One of the most important lessons we carried over is that fellows need space to arrive truly, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally," Maseke said. "What we did differently was creating room to begin well, and I believe that shift makes all the difference. When people start from a grounded place, you're already halfway to a successful cohort."

The quality of engagement across the four days exceeded expectations. Maseke described the cohort as "sharp, analytical, and deeply passionate about ethical democracies" and said that what made the seminar truly memorable was "witnessing 26 unique journeys come to life". Watching fellows connect the dots between their experiences and the paths they are pursuing, she said, was "refreshing". Their self-awareness about the kind of leaders they want to become gives them considerable hope for the year ahead.

Lindiwe Mazibuko (left), Ory Okollow (centre), and Natasha Kimani (right) during the cake-cutting ceremony to officially welcome the new cohort.

As the programme year takes shape, Futurelect remains committed to the belief that sustainable progress is driven by individuals who lead with integrity, empathy and a strong sense of accountability. This second cohort, like the first, carries that belief forward. The foundation, as Maseke put it, has been laid well.

Partner with Us

We are grateful to the partners and supporters who make this work possible. If you are interested in collaborating with or funding Futurelect's programmes in East Africa, we invite you to get in touch at melody@futurelect.org.