KENYA MUST GET IT RIGHT FIRST BEFORE WE CAN FIX THE EAST AFRICAN INTEGRATION

By Jerry Okungu
Nairobi, Kenya
March 25, 2009

Macharia Gaitho of the Daily Nation wrote an interesting piece a few weeks ago. He had an interesting theory on how to kill tribalism and ethnic politics in Kenya. He suggested that any Kenyan aspiring to be a Member of Parliament should in future be barred by law from seeking such a public office from among his ethnic community, ancestral land or region of his birth.

He was explicit enough to suggest that the next time Uhuru Kenyatta contests for elections; he should head for Mbita constituency in Nyanza as Kajwang will be heading for Gichugu in Central Province.

If we can have Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi vying for a seat in Mvita in the Coast as Balala heads for Sabatia in Western Province, we shall then persuade William Ruto of Eldoret to contest the Siakago seat IN Eastern Province as we implore Joe Nyagah of the same area to head for Kilgoris in Rift Valley’s Masailand.

The day Martha Karua will run for Alego Usonga seat as Orengo heads for Gatundu South, we shall surely know that Kenya has finally matured politically. What about Raila Odinga moving to Muingi North as Charity Ngilu moves to Rarieda while Kalonzo Musyoka moves to Budalangi?

These are wild suggestions that may sound entertaining but the fact is; as long as we run into our tribal cocoons at the slightest threat to our political career, Kenya will continue to “wallow in the miasma “of our rotten politics!

With this pathetic situation; when the coalition is practically dead except for the trappings of power holding back partners from going their separate ways; it will be a miracle if a Kenyan head of state will have sleepless nights over tiny Migingo Island that is bothering a few Luo fishermen.

The political disconnect in Kenya is a perfect scenario for Yoweri Museveni. His soldiers can sit pretty on the island, fly the Ugandan flag on “Kaguta” Island and tax intruding Kenyan fishermen to the bone.

The scenario for Museveni in Kenya is pretty clear and straight forward. President Kibaki who is the Kenya Army Commander in Chief is not interested in reclaiming Migingo Island. There is no way he can resettle landless Kikuyus on that rocky patch of land. More importantly; the man most pained by the Migingo occupation is Raila Odinga, Kibaki’s Prime Minister. However, the Prime Minister has no army of his own.

More sweetly for Kaguta, the man is increasingly becoming irritating to Kibaki. A week never passes without Raila reminding Kibaki that Emilio stole his victory!
With this vexing scenario, Kaguta may just find it lucrative to acquire more Kenyan islands as Kibaki and Raila continue to bicker over who stole elections in 2007.

The bickering between Kibaki and Raila here in Kenya is killing two birds with one stone. First, it is killing the reform agenda that the international peace negotiators prescribed in early 2008 following the signing of the ODM/PNU Accord.

Without harmony, Kenyans cannot have a new constitution, Truth and Reconciliation Commission; reform the judiciary, the police force and the State Law Office. Without reforms, political bad manners will continue to dog Kenya with chances of a more violent 2012 elections.

The other bird that this Kenyan political mess is busy killing is the roadmap to regional integration. Yes; who would be stupid enough to enter into a union government with people who have failed to govern themselves? Who would want to enter into a political marriage with leaders who have made election rigging and killings for political leadership a way of life?

Kenya, the big brother of East Africa’s economy has failed badly in providing the much needed leadership. Greed has blurred the vision of our leaders. They no longer are able to see the big picture. Village and tribal politics have taken centre stage. The crave to be president by whatever means necessary has distorted everything we can believe in.

At this rate, our Millennium Development Goals together with our own much publicized Vision 2030 can rot on the shelves for all we care. All that matters now is how to out-maneuver one another and inherit Kibaki’s seat at State House. This is the bug that has bitten the ODM and PNU stalwarts alike. It is an incurable disease that will take some time to cure.

The tragedy with our Kenyan internal turmoil, coupled with this irritating Migingo dispute is that East African member states as a Community do not seem too eager to sort them out. They are seeing Kenyan political upheavals as internal matter which it isn’t. Any political upheaval in Kenya is bound to be felt thousands of miles beyond the borders of East Africa.

Migingo Island may be a small fishermen’s tiny rock, however; it is small embers that can turn into a raging forest fire! The EAC member states owe it to us to intervene on these two issues.

Jerryokungu@gmail.com