From Policy to Impact: Rethinking Leadership in Africa’s Public Sector

On the morning of 5th June 2025, thought leaders, policymakers, and governance enthusiasts converged at Strathmore Business School (SBS), Watamu Café for a high-level Public Policy and Leadership in Africa (PPLA) Breakfast Meeting. Themed “From Policy to Impact: Rethinking Leadership in Africa’s Public Sector,” the gathering sought to explore a fundamental and persistent question: Why do public policies in Africa and across the globe so often fall short of their intended goals?

The session began with opening remarks from Mr. Githii Mburu, former Commissioner General of the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), whose keynote address set the tone for an insightful discussion. He posed a provocative question that grounded the dialogue: “How does government choose its agenda?” This sparked a lively, participatory exchange as attendees shared their personal policy interests and frustrations, bringing lived experience and critical reflection to the forefront.

Setting the Agenda: Whose Priorities Count?

The conversation explored how policy agendas are shaped. Influences range from media narratives, which shape public consciousness; to elected representatives, such as Members of Parliament, who advocate for constituent needs; to civil society organizations, which push for rights and reforms. However, it was observed that these influences are not always driven by urgency or evidence. Instead, visibility and political expediency often take precedence, leading to priorities that are misaligned with societal needs.

Policy Design: Building on Faulty Foundations

Participants agreed that many policy failures are rooted in the design phase. There is often a misuse of data, where statistics are cherry-picked to support pre-determined conclusions, rather than uncovering actual problems. Additionally, problem analysis is frequently shallow, failing to consider systemic complexity. The dominance of private or elite interests further erodes the focus on collective benefit, while limited institutional capacity—such as under-resourced policy units and lack of technical skills—undermines evidence-based formulation.

Policy Adoption: Missing the Bridge

Even the best-designed policies may never reach implementation due to weak adoption. A recurring issue raised was the lack of inclusive stakeholder engagement, which alienates citizens and key interest groups. Decisions are often swayed by vested interests, including well-connected individuals, lobby groups, or those threatening legal action. This results in policies with low legitimacy, vulnerable to opposition, non-compliance, or institutional inertia.

Implementation: The Achilles’ Heel of Public Policy

Implementation emerged as the most fragile link in the policy chain. Often, governments respond reactively, crafting policies hastily in response to crises without the benefit of strategic foresight. A significant skills gap in the civil service—particularly in technical, monitoring, and managerial areas—limits execution capacity. Resource constraints, including underfunding, poor coordination, and weak accountability, also undermine effectiveness. Moreover, external interference, especially from influential private interests, distorts the execution of public mandates. Compounding the problem, oversight institutions tasked with evaluation are either too weak or politicized, limiting learning and accountability.

Leadership as the Missing Link

In his closing remarks, Mr. Mburu emphasized that political will is the cornerstone of policy success. Without courageous, visionary, and committed leadership, even the most meticulously designed policies are unlikely to deliver meaningful outcomes.

The event served as a space for learning and reflection and a platform to inspire a new generation of public leaders. Hosted as part of Strathmore Business School’s commitment to nurturing “Great African Leaders,” the event reinforced the urgent need to rethink how leadership and governance are practiced across the continent.

Article by Juliet Hinga