KENYA AT FIFTY, celebrations yet?

Criticisms have been heaped on Kenya, both by Kenyans and non-Kenyans alike. To those who have bothered themselves to keenly study the socio-economic and political systems in Kenya they can clearly ascertain that the country got astray from its development path.  At independence the country had a superb economy; iconic economic blue prints that got the eyes of some world leaders especially those from Asia, and some even borrowed a piece from it, and yes we all know how they are faring on now.

Indeed Kenyans bear the spirit of greatness. Despite the countries socio-economic and even political downfalls Kenyans can still afford a smile and even stand tall in some arena, sadly the country could be far much better than its position today. With its world class athletes who have become the countries delight overtime, marvelous wildlife which have made it to the 8^th world wonder and even the M-Pesa exquisite mobile technology services Kenya still got the light shining. To the many shujaas known and unknown who have strived to steer back the country to the right way, hats off to them. Wangari Mathaai, Rev. Timothy Njoya, Tom Mboya, Tegla Lorupe (the peace ambassador) and many more unknown and unmentioned heroes and heroines of the country  they will always be in the right side of history.

Like the proverbial ostrich hiding its head in the sand and assuming no one is watching, Kenya has swept a lot under the carpet. Grand corruption cases, the Golden-berg, the Anglo-leasing .., losing and being unable to account for Ksh 303 billion in the financial year 2012-2013 and yeah ‘isorait’ !!  We forget/ forge and move on!! The social fabric unfortunately has been knitted to accept such without making critical and taking proactive steps to correct them. The ‘tuendelee vivyo hivyo’ philosophy is still on course and when the dirt in the carpet will rise to the ceiling level point and people get pushed out of the roof is when citizens will wake up to a shocking REALITY, always to their disadvantage. 

Being in a capitalist society, the best we could choose, albeit there is no other option, the little the government (both central and devolved) spends on her development and welfare programs should be treated with utmost diligence. Understanding the few short comings that system (capitalism) brings about; an increase in divide between the rich and the poor; the problem should be curbed wisely not infringing on the ideals and spirit of the system. It sounds vague but yes it is true. Kenyans have to face such situations with their faces straight and their conscience sober.  Again monies meant for welfare and other related programs should be accounted for to the last cent. Building community health centers, public schools, repairing community roads and bridges should be done in the right time frame and without any case of misappropriation of the monies whatsoever.  Misuse of such funds will be like the biblical story of a king with thousands of sheep bulling and taking a peasants only fattened sheep to slaughter it for his guests. It is a curse, ushering in poverty real quick.

A look at the Asian tigers, Singapore and South Korea for instance these economic giants have been able to transform their countries economies to a world class levels. They have had their countries metamorphosis from developing to developed countries in a span of three decades!!

Singapore for instance got independence the same year as Kenya, in 1963 and like Kenya from the Brits. The country then was in shambles, struggling with all forms of ills that any third world country has since faced. 

For these Asian tigers, their founding leaders must have soul searched a lot, and sought for answers to their then and even future problems  selflessly and carefully not being corrupted with the trends of their times. They sailed against the tides then, and clung to their virtues with the hope that their future generations will have better livelihoods than them. And sure their discipline bore fruits.

The secret behind their success all through to date has undoubtedly been; sheer strictness to the laws and order of the land; Servitude leadership and political will from their leaders and a high level of patriotism and belief in their leaders. These have been the cornerstone to their rapid development over the three decades. Their leaders unlike many developing countries leaders who use their political occupations to amass wealth Singapore’s leaders knew when to pay the ultimate sacrifice. Their level of patriotism has been unmatched to many developing countries Kenya included. Singapore for instance despite their ethnic groups (Chinese, Malaysians and even Indians) which their origin countries borders them by sea, they managed to underscore their ethnic differences, detached themselves from their countries of origin interest and built a strong nation with a high level of patriotism.

Economically Singapore now has one of the highest per capita incomes in the world and clearly has the highest trade-to-GDP ratio in the world at 407.9 percent.

As Kenya, a regional giant celebrates its 50^th anniversary in December2013, a lot needs to be pondered on and hard questions be asked and answered too. Kenyan citizens and its leaders should seek to answer these questions:

•  Is the country focusing on the right priorities? 
•  Do successive governments have a guide, a national blue print to economic growth and development, if yes is it being adhered to? 
•   Are the county governments taking off and being natured to do so by the national government? 
•  Is the constitution being respected?
• Are the populace benefiting from economic growth, if there is any?

Finally if all the above questions get answered with an affirmative then:

Access to clean water and sanitation should not be a problem anymore; healthcare should be accessible and affordable to all equipped with modern facilities; quality education should be in place for all; Affordable electricity should be available with 85% and above of the populace enjoying it and high energy consuming industries being charged fairly;  citizens should  be able to access the basic needs as enshrined in the constitution’s bill of rights; a lot of funds should be channeled towards improving the citizen’s welfares; value addition to raw good produced locally should be in place; trade should also be high and balance of trade to Kenya’s favor while trade within the EAC, the  continent and globally be high; vision 2030 should have been fast tracked to 2020 through rapid result initiatives; government funds should be  accounted for to the last cent and least but not last Inclusive politics should be in place and fairly practiced. 

“The time is always right to do right” - Nelson Mandela

RIP Madiba

The African Union, African Renaissance

The programs and actions that the African Union has pursued to date have shown that the Continental Union has what it takes to call the shots in the international system! What used to be a docile institution, and divided down the middle during the cold war has now arisen! The sleeping giant has been awakened to say the least! It is the potential that lies within her, her natural and human resources that has caught the eyes of various external suitors. I suppose, her potential as a fast upcoming market with an increased middle class coupled with her gradual growth overtime has made each actor in the international system to try and strike their luck by courting her! Mama Africa now is cute than never before, dazzling and awesome.., it is no longer the dark continent as they used to refer her, but a queen in the making!

From sending troops, on peace missions to maintain peace and order in countries like Somalia, Ivory Coast, the DRC, Kenya and even further trying to fast track the UNs peace keeping mission program in Central Africa Republic, the African Union has proven its wits. It has however faced a fair share of challenges for instance not coming in swiftly to aid in the Libyan crisis that saw the ousting of the Libyan hardliner Muammar Gaddafi in a horrific way! Leaving behind a country in tartars and the aftermath problems spilling to her neighbors especially Mali. The weaponry that was allegedly given to the Libyan rebels to aid in ousting Gaddafi from power were easy accessed by the Islamic extremists in the region. Lack of proper security assessment of the fragile situation in the Maghreb region then, especially on the proliferation of arms was the main reason for the recent instability in Mali, as the arms got to the wrong hands.

 The African continent also needs to deal with her intra state problems. The problems faced by African countries have resulted in little concentration on the Pan-Africanism and the African renaissance agenda. However time is ripe for the Union to rethink about the African renaissance agenda in a critical perspective.  Solving problems within the African Union spectrum is ideal, unlike depending on the external world to solve our problems every time. However though a lot need to be done within countries that compose the Union, especially on governance, poverty alleviation and economic development, holistic that is! All these are achievable and everything is in place, it’s only a matter of swinging into well calculated actions and working on them diligently.

The latest move by the African Union to salvage the shame and the cost which Kenya would have got itself in by having its head of state charged at the ICC on crimes against humanity is an awakening call, that the Union can be called upon to come together to solve problems affecting its own kind!

The true spirit of Pan-Africanism though will be to convene special head of states summits to find solutions on how to tackle pertinent issues affecting its masses especially on security, for instance in the DRC Congo, Central African Republic and Somalia where masses are not entitled to a wide range of human rights both on civil and socio-economic and cultural aspects. On food security the continent also need to find amicable solutions to tackle the problem, the same with healthcare and sanitation. Infrastructural developments especially in the transport systems (rail, road, air and even water), dams, educational and healthcare facilities needs to be developed and equipped well to meet the required standards!

Having a majority of African countries celebrating 50 years of independence soon while others have already celebrated it, as for the likes of Ghana et al, and even some having not been colonized with the case of Ethiopia and Liberia it is has reached a time for the continent to critically review her position since her independence, on political and socio-economic developments; and even better find concrete solutions to most its problems while encouraging sustainable and holistic development programs! It’s time to let mama Africa grow both in stature and in character! Let mama Africa arise and shine!!!    

A NEW DEAL FOR SOMALIA; HOW TO GO ABOUT IT!

Somalia has continually been referred by many as a failed state!  However though it still holds the title ‘a state’ and this means it is an actor in the international system, and a key one to be precise!  Somalia is one of the few countries that boast of a long coast line, a privilege that a few countries in the African continent have access to. Its proximity to the Suez Canal on the north also gives it an advantage of  exploiting the international trading conduit that if utilized can turn around this country’s economy and tremendously improve the living standards of its populace. Even better still Somalia can become a key geopolitical partner to its neighboring countries especially Ethiopia and Sudan, and even The Central African Republic! The alleged presence of chunks of natural resources namely oil and gas has since never been exploited fully given the political instability that has since rocked this country!

These vast resources that Somalia is endowed with will never see the light of the day if peace and tranquility will not be achieved! The European Union has stepped up the process, that have since been done by various parties; The United Sates, The United Nations, Ethiopia, Kenya and the African Union western funded peace keeping forces under the abbreviation name AMISOM (African Union Mission in Somalia).  

The recent Brussels conference affirmed yet again the will of the European Union, through the ‘New Deal’ to restore peace and enable implementation of prioritized state building goals. The Union pledged a whopping 2.4 billion dollars to Somalia. This is amount is almost eight times higher than the previous amount that had been pledged in London later on this year as the union had pledged, 300 million dollars.

These turn of events points out a positive trajectory on stability of Somalia. It is also a sigh of relief to her neighbors; that have since been forced to put up with the scourge of an anarchic neighbor! Countries bordering Somalia have had problems resulting from militias and terrorists affiliated groups, proliferations of small arms and an influx of refugees to mention the least.

 The rag tagged militia Al -Shabaab, however rubbished the grant in what I perceive as a shudder from the fear of the growing stability of the main government in which they are planning to ouster. Their claim on twitter that the grant “...is a bit like Belgian Waffles: sweet on the outside but really has not much substance to it” should be ashamed and the militia made toothless through the success of the ‘marshal plan’.

The success of The New Deal signed in 2011 by over 40 countries, will greatly be measured on the reconstruction outcome from Somalia. A positive outcome from the 2.4 billion dollar grant which will be channeled to the process of reconstructing the economy and its social aspects will be tantamount to success of the Union. The political aspect which is fragile should be handled systemically through incorporating thee society in defining what kind of system they want for their nation.

Key sectors that the funds need to deliver tangible results should be on infrastructural development key among them being; healthcare, education and on food security mechanisms! The progress on security should also be enabled even more! With this in place citizens will have access basic needs. Developing the transport sector will also increase mobility of the populace thus opening avenues that will heighten their opportunities in life and also opening up the country for increased development.

Amidst all these development programs the citizens should be incorporated in building their country in any way possible! This will make them own the projects and the infrastructure being established and importantly it will make them earn a living. Administration fee should be minimized at all costs and bureaucracy be avoided completely.

With a stable, food secure, good healthcare and a well-established education system the Somalis can be on their feet once again! Europe too will have returned the invaluable favor to humanity, the way they US had did during the aftermath of WWII. The international system will be glad to welcome yet again a self-reliant and a peaceful Somalia! >Read my last blog on Somalia  here >> http://is.gd/VBr50Z

INSTITUTIONALIZING CORRUPTION

SOCIALIZATION IN A CORRUPT SOCIETY

Corruption should be the worst acts in our modern history, albeit in human history. In my honest opinion it is one of the most demoralizing acts, one that leaves me wondering how on earth we can accept to stoop so low to such. Corruption builds a lawless society where we consciously accept to kill our morals and condone out right human killings and underdevelopment; through the ripple effects that corruption brings about. I at times subconsciously akin bribe taking by the law enforcing institutions of our republic, the traffic police for instance as extension officers from the Kenya Revenue Authority. Even though I cannot fathom exactly how much they collect daily, but one thing is sure the economy stand to lose from such acts that go scot free avoiding the taxman noose at their watch! The loss must be in billions!!

The duration to stump out these scourge as I would like to call it, is what concerns me. I take the judicial system in the country for instance. It took close to half a century for it to barely be credible . Thanks to the Judicial Reforms that had been undertaken with some credible seriousness and which at last bore some fruits. I hope the police reforms too will follow suit but this time round in an amicable  manner  and swift time frame, given its sensitivity and its significance to the public and the region at whole.

I really don’t have anything personal with the law enforcing sector though, but it being at the top in the country on corruption and bribery clearly worries me to the bone. How on earth can a country be in a state of lawlessness? Or let me call it institutionalized corruption… I know it sounds so surreal given that life moves on and may be it does not affect everyone at the same time to create ‘the crisis’ but surely this is totally absurd. ( Kenya Police top three most corrupt in EA  http://bit.ly/14fpSHS)

Being socialized into this kind of rot is even more dangerous given the ripple effect it will generate. A society that accepts to toa kitu kidogo to have certain services and acts be done, which according to the law are supposed to be offered freely. I am not wrong to claim that this mentality of tuna omba serikali is a product of this socialization. 

It is therefore rife for the public in general and the government to fast track reforms in all major institutions and bring about a culture and a norm where responsibility and integrity are held close to everyone’s heart. This will help transform the county and its subjects into a conscious society that gives no room to apathy and lack of responsibility especially in state owned institutions. It’s with this kind of socialization where individuals who have failed to deliver or who have failed to stop a menace, will find it morally right to resign and give other technocrats a chance to bring sanity in former organizations.