Evidently, the training and exposure teachers gain over the years serve as a strong foundation for those who want to transition into politics. This is true in America as it is in Africa and elsewhere.
This article highlights successful political leaders from around the world who served as respected teachers before entering politics. Among those mentioned are a Canadian Prime Minister, two US presidents, a US senator, a Botswana President, and Kenyan presidents and governors.
The 23rd Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, is a notable example. Before venturing into politics, where he served as prime minister from 2015 to 2025, Trudeau taught math in elementary school and later French and other subjects in high school.
When he transitioned into politics, Trudeau made history by forming a cabinet where the men and women he appointed were equal in number. He also introduced the Canada Child Benefit, a tax-free subsidy for parents in the poor and middle classes. This benefit covered dependents under 18 years of age, helping sustain their welfare and enabling them to lead decent lives. This benefit was not only helpful to the individual families but also to society at large.
In Africa, the 5th president of Botswana, Mokgweetsi Masisi, started his career as a high school teacher of English and History. During his tenure, 2018 – 2024, he was credited with diversifying the country’s economy, which historically focused on diamond mining and trade. He was also hailed for promoting youth programs, including sports.
In Kenya, the country’s 3rd president, Mwai Kibaki, who took the reign in 2002 when the economy was in the doldrums, started out as a lecturer at Makerere University in Uganda. He taught economics after earning a BSc in Public Finance from the London School of Economics.
By the end of President Kibaki’s first term in office, the economy had grown from a rate below 1% to 7%, progress that the entire country felt. By the end of his second term, he had laid a strong foundation that successive regimes have since used to advance infrastructure and other forms of development. Among his most memorable achievements were nationwide developments, including the Thika Superhighway and the revival of the Kenya railway network; the laying of the 5,000km fiber-optic cable and the general expansion of the ICT network; and the establishment of free primary education.
Still in Kenya, Governors Kivutha Kibwana and Mutahi Kahiga are great examples of devolved leadership. Professor Kivutha Kibwana, a former Law Professor at the University of Nairobi, served as Governor for Makueni County from 2013 to 2022. In 2018, he drew immense admiration from Kenyans for seeking treatment at a local hospital in his county. Kenyan political leaders, like many of their African counterparts, are not known to seek treatment at the government hospitals under their management.
Besides improving health services in his county during his tenure, Kibwana also initiated value addition for locally farmed produce. Many Kenyans hailed him as a top-performing governor, and even the Kenya Human Rights Commission recognized him for actively engaging his constituents in major decision-making.
Governor Mutahi Kahiga, the 4th governor of Nyeri County, has a strong foundation in teaching and teachers’ leadership. He has served as Vice-Chairperson of the Kenya Council of Governors, an entity comprising 47 governors.
At the local level, the Nyeri governor collaborates with the Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) to enhance service delivery. This is notable considering that many counties have had strained relationships between their governors and MCAs. Mutahi Kahiga opts to engage his county colleagues through the established house committees, an approach that has seen the Nyeri leadership focus on development with minimal distractions.
Evidently, Mr. Kahiga’s 32 years of teaching experience have served him well in political leadership. Before delving into politics, he served as the executive secretary of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) at the county and regional levels. In politics, he is one of those leaders who have no qualms reaching out to leaders of different persuasions to advance the welfare of his constituents.
In 2024, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), an economic development program of the African Union, through a peer review program, recognized Governor Kahiga for his leadership, rating his county, Nyeri, as the best in service delivery among Kenya’s 47 counties.
Kenya’s 2nd Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, who is known for his long-lasting fight for democracy, taught at the University of Nairobi before delving into politics. That was in the early 1970s, when he served as a lecturer under the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
In the US, the renowned American senator, Elizabeth Warren, was first a Harvard law professor. She has consistently championed consumer welfare, despite unsettling the owners of big corporations with their insensitive financial practices. For that, she has earned the title, “Sheriff of Wall Street”.
The 45th US President, Barack Obama, was also a Harvard Law Professor before successfully running for the Senate from Illinois. He served from 2005 to 2008, and only left to make history as the first US president of Black descent.
Even the 36th US President, Lyndon Johnson, was initially a teacher. He is credited with enhancing liberalism in America through the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and 1968, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Teachers’ versatility in different leadership roles may be attributed to their experience adapting to the needs of their students, colleagues, and the communities around them.