Important messages from Kenya
Wednesday, 24 April 2013 00:00
Stephen Mpofu
The recent swearing in of Kenyas President set the template for a political
and economic renaissance in that country and elsewhere in Africa.
The above must have been the most likely and poignant message to a divisive
West from the heavy presence of African leaders and representatives of
progressive countries elsewhere, all whether friends of Africa at the
inauguration in Nairobi of Kenyas fourth president Uhuru Kenyatta whose
father, Jomo Kenyatta, was the first president of that East African country.
President Kenyatta certainly re-enforced Africas anger at the West for
arrogating unto itself the role of policeman of the world with a tendency
to impose leaders of their choice on other countries. Witness the
bankrolling of leaders the imperialists would dearly want to see in power in
Zimbabwe among other African countries, including Kenya itself.
But while condemning countries with a penchant for exercising dominion over
others, which he did not name, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni was more
blatant, slamming the International Criminal Court of being a tool used by
Western countries to impose leaders in Africa. President Museveni stopped
short of mentioning a move the ICC is pursuing as an agent of Western
imperialism to try Mr Kenyatta for alleged crimes against humanity arising
from political violence in Kenyas previous elections. It remains to be seen
whether the ICC in The Hague will pursue its charges even after Mr Kenyatta
assumed his new role as head of state.
Ironically and this seems to endorse a Western holier than thou existential
nature leaders of some Western countries whose soldiers have massacred
civilians in Africa and in the Middle East have themselves not been brought
for trial at The Hague for crimes against humanity. Another important
message in President Kenyattas inaugural speech had the ring of a national
reconciliation similar to that declared by Cde Robert Mugabe when being
inaugurated as Prime Minister of Zimbabwe at Independence in 1980. The armed
struggle had secured the country from a foreign ruling culture which had
divided the people along racial and political lines that, if left to
continue, would not augur well for a new beginning for a free nation.
No doubt, therefore, President Mugabe, who was among the heads of state and
government at the inaugural ceremony, must have been delighted to hear
Kenyatta declaring that his government would strive to create peace and
unity in East Africas largest economy.
The Kenyan leader promised to lead all Kenyans: those who voted for me and
those who voted for our competitors, adding that achieving peace and
unity will be the goal of my government.
In essence, President Kenyatta implicitly called on his defeated opponents
and former prime minister Raila Odinga, who reportedly boycotted Kenyattas
installation as head of state by going to South Africa, on holiday, and his
supporters to take the outstretched hand of reconciliation extended to them
and let bygones be bygones by embarking on a new journey of social and
economic development of their country as one united force. Unity would be
critical to the development programme President Kenyatta must have had the
prudence to realise.
He said that in his first 100 days in office his government will embark on a
programme that includes the scrapping of maternity fees, access to free
health services and school computerisation. It goes without saying that for
these things to succeed all Kenyans, regardless of their political
persuasions, will have to run with the governments initiatives.
However, by embarking on the all-important question of land reform as well
as on equitable distribution of Kenyas natural resources President
Kenyattas government is likely to run into ugly roadblocks planted in the
way by some if not all of the governments in the West. This is because any
land reform will require repossession of land in the hands of whites, mainly
of British stock, since Kenya, like Zimbabwe, had been a British colony with
a huge population of white settler farmers.
The Kenyan government might also find it necessary to expose blacks owning
land as fronts of companies run by foreigners, an unmasking process also
likely to incur the wrath of Western countries in sympathy with their kith.
The upshot of such an exercise might well result in economic sanctions
similar to those imposed on Zimbabwe for her land reform programme being
applied to try to exact regime change in Kenya.
But the interests of the people of Kenya, like those of the people of
Zimbabwe, far outweigh the obscene interests and machinations of foreign
powers that seek political strangleholds in Africa in order to exploit the
resources of poor nations.
In this regard, African leaders should rally their unqualified support
behind Kenyatta and his government in the same way that they demonstrated a
oneness with the people of Kenya at the installation of Kenyatta. There was
also an equally important message for Zimbabweans from the inaugural
ceremony with regards to the behaviour expected of civilised people at
elections. Vice-President William Ruto said: Never again will the people of
this country shed political blood or destroy property on account of
political competition. Political competition in our country shall henceforth
be about ideas and manifestos. These profound words of virtue should ring
true in the ears of every Zimbabwean, political leader or follower, as our
nation prepares for harmonised elections scheduled for the end of June.
Stephen Mpofu is former editor of The Sunday Mail and The Chronicle.
Thé Mulindwas Communication Group
"With Yoweri Museveni and Dr. Kiiza Besigye Uganda is in anarchy"
Kuungana Mulindwa Mawasiliano Kikundi
"Pamoja na Yoweri Museveni na Dk. Kiiza Besigye Uganda ni katika machafuko"
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