President Kibaki of Kenya must not let East Africa down

By: Jerry Okungu

[ Posted On: 2006-04-04 ]

Now that president Jakaya Kikwete has handed over the EAC chaimanship to President Kibaki, Kenya must not let East Africa down.

The atmosphere in Arusha was charged with hope and optimism all week as the resolutions prepared by technical teams, permanent secretaries and regional ministers was finally adopted

Equally significant were fundamental changes that saw Hon Amanya Mushaga Uganda retire from the CEO position he had held for five years. As Tanzania filled the slot, Kenya also filled two positions of Council of Ministers and the Heads of State Summit chairmanships. In effect this development puts President Kibaki and Minister John Koech on the spotlight. This is because these two bodies are the most important organs that give direction to the issues affecting the community. For the next twelve months the success or failure of the EAC s Strategic Plan will depend on these two gentlemen from Kenya. They also have a new CEO that they must support to settle very fast in his new job.

Judging by the mood and excitement at the new Federation Anthem, it is possible that East Africans are finally coming to terms with the real possibility of one East African nation. The lyrics of the national anthem told it all.

However, there are three critical issues that the new chairmen must deal with expeditiously. Two of such issues were raised by the outgoing secretary general Hon Amanya Mushaga.

The first issue is the urgent for the three Heads of State to appoint full time Cooperation Ministers and their permanent secretaries to live and work in Arusha on nothing else but Community affairs. The issue of having Council of Ministers meeting from time to time is doing a disservice to the good intentions of the organization. Hon Amanya Mushega stated as much.

The other issue is the Community Budget and who should be responsible for preparing it. It was disheartening to learn that despite it being stated clearly in the Articles of the EAC that the Secretary General would be responsible for preparing it, the contrary has been the practice. It would appear like the EAC member states ignored the clause and actually usurped the powers of their CEO. It was noted that members prepared the annual budget and approved it themselves. In the end the operations of the secretariat have been grossly under-funded.

The third issue that was well dealt with was the appointment of a third Deputy Secretary General in charge of Fast-tracking the Federation. Beatrice Biringu of Uganda filled the slot. This development should jumpstart the process which has been on the drawing board since 2004 when the Summit approved it.

A part from the appointment of the CEO of the Lake Victoria Development Commission with its headquarters in Kisumu, Hon Beatrice Biringu's task is perhaps the most daunting one because she has a very tight program and deadlines to meet. She must deliver the first phase of the federation by 2011 as per the 2004 timetable.
If she doesn't deliver by then, she can be sure to have no job in 2012 as it would no longer be fast- tracking but rather slow- tracking business. If we don't have this thing by 2011 we will say goodbye to a bad dream.

This means that Hon Biringu must settle down as quickly as possible, draw up a plan of action and embark on the tedious task of civic education throughout East Africa, Rwanda and Burundi. The people of the region must be sold to the idea until they buy in to it or reject it.

The civic education campaign must particularly target misplaced and misguided suspicions, mistrust and petty jealousies being promoted by short sighted small time politicians in our region. This process must seek to empower the people of the region to take their destiny into their own hands rather than succumb to the whims of their political leaders

Such baseless suspicions have in the past denied us our birthright togetherness for too long. East Africans must be made to understand that politicians come and go no matter how great they may be but our region will always be there for our posterity. We must leave behind a positive legacy for our children and great grand children. If it were not so, we would still have Kenyatta, Nyerere, Obote, Amin, Mwinyi, Mkapa and Moi as our leaders.

This civic education should be followed by a referendum in each partner state and only those states that will have overwhelmingly voted for it should be the ones given a chance to federate. Those who reject it the first time have to be given a few more years to reconsider their decision. No state should be bullied into the union without majority of its people conceding.

For Hon Biringu, her work has been cut out for her in the lyrics of the new national anthem. If she keeps faithful to the script, she will find ready ears to receive her message. It is such a powerful and moving document that must be translated in all languages including French for our brothers in Burundi and Rwanda. It explains everything anybody would like to know why this region needs to unite.

The good news is that despite lack of adequate funds, the secretariat program officers have done a commendable job.

The one area they have moved in with speed has been the infrastructure development program for the five member states. In the next few years we will be able to travel on a German- like autobahn from Moyale in the northern most part of Kenya to the border of Tanzania and Zambia. Very soon, we will drive on good roads from Kisumu to Mwanza around Lake Victoria. The railway and oil pipelines will be extended from Eldoret to Kampala, Bujumbura and Kigali. In this regard the signed protocol for a common border post between Kenya and Uganda financed by the World Bank and the US government, should in a few months see goods and people moving faster between Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.

The African Development Bank Arusha-Namanga-Athi River dual carriage way should make travel between Arusha and Nairobi faster and safer.

It will definitely impact on the people of the region economically, with numerous positive ripple effects in as far urban centres as Machakos, Thika, Nakuru ,Kisumu, Jinja, Mbale and Kampala.

Yes, let us think positively and the rest will come to pass. Let us make the dreams of Nyerere , Obote and Kenyatta come. Let us create our federation.

Article Source: http://www.afroarticles.com/article-dashboard

About The Author:

Jerry Okungu is a freelance political analyst based in Nairobi, Kenya. Jerry is currently covering the East African Community conference in Arusha, Tanzania. He can be reached at Jerryokungu@hotmail.com. Other articles written by Jerry Okungu are available at this location

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