African Woman and Child Feature Service

There is a lot of excitement bubbling around me as I sit at the Communications Consortium Media Centre.

There are many women in the news and I wish this would stay with us for long. One woman is going for the presidency while another has been appointed to handle money matters at the International Monetary Fund.

Michelle Bachmann has just launched her bid for Presidency within the Republican Party. On Monday Bachmann announced her candidacy for the 2012 presidential nomination. A woman with impressive credentials, Bachmann reminded me of Martha Karua, the only woman who has so far launched her presidential bid for the 2012 general lections in Kenya.

Though a surprise candidate, Bachmann is already facing so many tests in the murky political field. Though she has had the experience of being a politician, going for the presidency is another ball game all together.

Already it is quite clear that Bachmann will have a dramatic impact on the race. She has already stolen the limelight and is wooing crowds in the appearances that she has made. She has sown that she can be a serious candidate for the presidency.

Bachmann has made some gaffes in her speeches. However, what I like about her is that she has come out in the open and agreed that like any human being she is not perfect and can make mistakes. “She said: “ I wish I was perfect. People are prone to make mistakes.”

Openly coming out to say that she made a mistake is a plus for Bachmann. Foe me, she is totally different from the male politicians that I have seen in Kenya, who openly say one thing today, and the extreme opposite tomorrow, and even when challenged say the Press is putting words in their mouths even when there is evidence.

I find Bachmann a breathe of fresh air as she spoke passionately about how she wants to make life different for Americans.

The United States of America is a huge country when I compare it to Kenya. Being the CEO of such a nation will require many things, which I am sure Bachmann, will be able to manage.

A former tax litigation lawyer, she said she has good sense on how to turn the economy around and how to create jobs. Speaking during a CNN Morning Show a day after launching her presidential bid, Bachmann said: “I want to bring that sensibility, good sense, small town common sense that I learnt growing up in Iowa. People want someone who can turn the economy around.”

Speaking at the AC 360, John King, CNN’s chief Correspondent said so far Bachmann could be the most influential person in shaping the race for presidency.

Bachmann comes into this race following in the footsteps of Hillary Clinton who was in the presidential bid with Barrack Obama and Sarah Palin who was the running mate to John McCain.

Already there is a lot of excitement around Bachmann’s candidacy and the press is paying a lot of attention to her.

If she made some mistakes in her past that will catch up with her here, I hope that the burden of guilt will not be to heavy.

For me Bachmann is the Martha Karua of US. Or is Martha Karua the Bachmann of Kenya. When she initially indicated her interest in the race, a media house journalist asked her in an interview whether she was a flake. A reporter on Fox News asked Bachmann: ‘Are you a lake?’

Media sources here said that the question would not have been asked to a man and this is how media still trivialises women going for top positions.

However, with Bachmann now in the race, all the men who had indicated interest in going for the presidency must now restrategise with this woman on board.

The same story is going on Kenya, where though the politics have been regionalized and ethnicised with many saying that Karua has tilted the scales in the central Kenya politics.

It is time that male domination was reduced by some percentage, and as I wish that Bachmann will win the race not only within the Republican but in the final shot to the White House, I wish that Karua will also win the race to State House.

I also wish that more women will join in the race for Presidential elections and say that “yes women can”.

Many are coming up. I think if things work then Ellen Johnson Sirleaf will no longer be lonely at the top.

Edith Kabbang Walla or Kah Wallah as she is popularly known has shown interest in going for the Cameroonian top position. I hope she makes it.

With Bachmann, Karua and Kah Wallah leading the pack, soon more women will be making news as countries chief executive officers.