DIPLOMAT East Africa - Volume 9

>>WikiLeaks: Diplomatic Debacle of the Decade PG 80 December - January 2011

Volume 009

Door to Region, Window on World

OCAMPO's

Gambit Safaricom

EA’s Bluest Blue Chip Indepth Interview with the New CEO

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•DIPLOMATIC LICENCE

Sudan: Challenges of Separation

U

nless there is a last minute and sea change of mind and conviction in Southern Sudan, all indications are that the people of this region of Africa’s largest country will on January 9 vote to break from the union as we know it and usher in Africa’s newest country.

That will not be an end but the beginning of a long journey for both Khartoum and Juba. The break up will throw up a host of challenges mainly for the South but also for Khartoum because separation does not begin and end with the declaration of the results of the referendum.

In light of this, we are of the opinion that diplomats from both Khartoum and Juba should be guided by a single principle in discussing the issues that a break-up of the Sudan union as we know it will throw up – peace must prevail at every stage of discussion and deliberation.

In this regard, we would like to posit that diplomats of the African Union and the United Nations be actively involved in ensuring that negotiations between Khartoum and Juba regarding their post-referendum relations are driven by the absolute need to ensure peace in Sudan.

It is possible that either Khartoum or Juba or both would want to argue that this is an internal matter which should be left to them to solve. But our position here is that involvement of AU and UN would not amount to interference because a return to conflict would engulf an entire region and draw in the continental and global bodies.

Separation will mean, for example, that where Juba and Khartoum have been in the same borders and governed by the same laws, they will now be in different countries and will now relate to each other through the foreign policies that they will adopt towards each other.

Breaking up the union means that the common border has to be agreed upon. However, though Khartoum and Juba agreed a ‘soft boarder’ in November, they have to sit down and agree on a common and permanent border to separate them sooner rather than later.

We say sooner rather than later because as is evident from all corners of Africa border disputes and conflicts have always led to instability on the continent. For example, Somalia and Ethiopia fought an ultimately futile war over the Ogaden Province in the 1970s and for the better part of 2010 Kampala and Nairobi have rowed over the island of Migingo in Lake Victoria.

After agreeing the common border Juba and Khartoum must find common ground on the increasingly sensitive and potentially explosive issue of sharing oil revenues.

Again, it should not be lost on both parties in Sudan that the reason Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in 1990 was that Baghdad was persuaded that the Kuwaitis were stealing Iraqi oil.

In the Sudan, southerners hold the view that they are not getting their fair share of oil revenues. The northerners argue that the figures are there for all to see that these revenues are shared between Khartoum and Juba. These suspicions need to be allayed as the two sides separate.

Equally divisive is the matter of Sudan’s huge government debt. There are those who argue that the debt was incurred by the government in Khartoum and there should be no reason for the southerners to be asked to help repay it or inherit part of it.

This argument is countered by those who take the view that the debt was incurred because the entire country needed services and therefore both Khartoum and Juba should repay it. A common ground must be reached amicably.

We are confident that Khartoum and Juba can reach agreement on these three crucial issues and that when they do the way forward on other issues should be relatively smooth. This is the way it should be in order that Juba can embark on the business of nation building in earnest because there is a lot to be done.

Needless to say, Juba will be looking to the international community for the financial wherewithal to help it embark and remain on the track of nation building and that in itself is just as important as agreeing a common border with Khartoum

December- January 2011

77

•IMMUNITIES & IMPUNITIES

Heard and Quoted “Nobody got exactly what he wanted and nobody is going home with what he wished, but everybody walks home with a viable solution” – Boutros Ghali, Egypt Finance Minister

“This trial will prove the force of law over law of force. Those who commit the most heinous crimes against humanity will never be free from prosecution, and will be hunted down to their final hiding place” – Judge

after a G-20 meeting on South Korea.

“Once he (Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe) hears something like that (that the wife, Grace Maarufu is cheating on him with Gideon Gono, head of Central Bank), I think someone will go to meet God” – An intelligence official reacting to claims

Joseph Bindoumi of the International Criminal Court during the trial of Jean Pierre Bemba, former Vice President.

Gono feared for his life.

“I read the Bible but I don’t trust what it says” – Former US President George Bush in his justreleased memoirs, styled “Decision Points”.

8

December-January 2011

M

â&#x20AC;¢THE REGION

Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!

Eastern Africa Beat

The Management, Editor and Staff of

Global Village Publishers EA Limited, publishers of Diplomat East Africa and Best of Kenya, wish all advertisers, subscribers and readers

throughout eastern Africa a Merry

Christmas and Happy 2011.

December - January 2011

99

•DIPLOSPEAK Have Your Say

Putting the Tehrain Position Straight THE TRUTH ABOUT THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN The Cultural Council of the Embassy of Islamic Republic of Iran wishes to comment on the Interview by DEA’s Bob Wekesa which appeared in the October 2010 edition on the part of Iran’s leadership in the Middle East.

Your interviewee rightly pointed out that Iran is a big strong country with a prominent history. In fact it has an area of 1,648,000 square kilometres and a population of over 70 million people. Iran is a cradle of ancient civilisations and cultures that have had a continuous impact on the world from time immemorial. Iran always seeks to maintain mutual friendly relations with not only its neighbouring countries in the Middle East but with any other sovereign country in the world.

On the issue of Iran having a clear agenda to destroy Israel, it is critical to note that Iran does not recognise the legitimacy of the State of Israel.

Iran considers Israel as an occupying state which forcibly withdrew the Palestinians from their homes to make way for Israeli illegal regime settlements; sadly with the support of the West which agreed to recognise this state.

How can the crimes of the occupiers against defenceless Palestinian women and children, destruction of their homes, farms, hospitals and schools be supported unconditionally by the West? At the same time, the oppressed men and women are subjected to genocide, economic siege and denied basic needs of food, water and medicine.

The only just solution which the Islamic Republic of Iran supports would be restitution to the Palestinians.

Give them back their land in which all

10

RANT/RAVE

The only just solution which the Islamic Republic of Iran supports would be

restitution to the Palestinians.

the Palestinians whether Christians, Jews or Muslims can live peacefully and establish their government through free, fair and democratic elections.

The occupying state is the only possessor of nuclear weapons in the Middle East region and not a member of NPT. It has repeatedly voiced its determination to stop Iran’s nuclear programme even through military means. Iran as a responsible country is committed to international obligations by adhering to the NPT and Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban regulations and supports a world free of nuclear weapons.

It was also mentioned that ‘’the Islamic Republic of Iran supports terrorist groups like Hamas and Hizbullah’’. It should go on record that the Islamic Republic of Iran does not support terrorism and does not believe in their activities. One thing is for sure: Hizbullah and Hamas came up largely as a response to Israel’s regime occupation and colonisation policies in Palestine and Lebanon alongside other secondary reasons.

As for the Al-Qaeda, it should be

December-January 2011

>>Looking Beyond Athletics To Boost Medal Haul PG 66 November 2010

Volume 008

Door to Region, Window on World

Sudan’s Defining Moment

To sunder or not to sunder, that’s the question SPECIAL REPORT>>: Focus on Sudan PG 13 HIGH END LUXURY YATCH>>: English Point Marina PG 60

WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU: Send your letters to, letters@ diplomateastafrica.com.

Submission of a letter constitutes permission to publish it in any form or medium. Letters may be edited for reasons of space and clarity.

DISCLAIMER: All letters submitted to Diplomat East Africa are presumed to be intended for publication. The editor reserves the right to edit all letters. Readers are advised to keep their letters short and to submit their names and addresses even when these are not to be published.

known that not only Iran but also all Muslims do not believe in their ideology. Iran is against killing of innocent people and respects life.

The true roots of Al-Qaeda stem from the decade-long conflict that plagued Afghanistan from 1979-1989 after Afghanistan was invaded by the Soviet Union. Some Western state poured in billions of dollars in secret assistance to Al-Qaeda. When the Soviet pulled out of Afghanistan in early 1989, AlQaeda did not dissolve.

Any geo-politician around the world will attest to the fact that Iran has gained considerable growth in the global map. Iran will remain pivotal for the foreseeable future because of its strategic location, resources and revolutionary ideology. Given Iran’s influential role in relation to developments in the Middle East and its potential for strategic partnership, the country can serve as a critical point where solutions to international problems can be found in cooperation with other big powers.

The focal attitude of Iran’s foreign policy is interaction, reaching out and moderation. It has the inclination and capacity for coalition-building and collective work with other countries in pursuit of its national interests. Iran will continue to forge ahead as a nation which sees other sovereign states with respect and dignity as they exchange not only developmental endeavours but also rich cultural experiences.

THE CULTURAL COUNCIL OF THE EMBASSY OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN P.o. Box 59595-00200, Nairobi Tel: 2214352/318833 Email: iranlib@yahoo.com

>>WikiLeaks: Diplomatic Debacle of the Decade PG 80

Door to Region, Window on World

Volume No 009 • December-January 2011 OCAMPO's

Gambit Safaricom

EA’s Bluest Blue Chip Indepth Interview with the New CEO

Pg 60

PUBLISHER Global Village Publishers (EA) Limited PO Box 23399-00625, Nairobi Vision Plaza, Ground Floor, Suite 19, Mombasa Road, Nairobi

TELEPHONES Landline: 020 2525253/4/5 Mobile: 0722 401739, 0722 787345 E-mail: habari@diplomateastafrica.com Feedback: editor@diplomateastafrica.com Subscription: subs@diplomateastafrica.com Website: www.diplomateastafrica.com

Contents Table of

EDITORIAL Editorial Director: Kwendo Opanga Consultant Editor: Matt K. Gathigira Chief Sub Editor: Patrick Wachira Culture Editor: Ngari Gituku Contributing Editor: Bob Wekesa Senior Writer: Jane Mwangi Staff Writers: Wycliffe Muga, Baron Khamadi, Kiishweko Orton,Carol Gachiengo, Carol Kiiru, Rabura Kamau

MARKETING & SALES Marketing Director: Simon Mugo

SALES TEAM LEADER James Ombima

PG 80

BUSINESS EXECUTIVES

PG 60

Joseph Ngina, Derrick Wanjawa, Eunice Kiarie, Paul Mucheru

DESIGN TEAM Daniel Kihara Raphael Mokora

DIPLOMATIC LICENSE Sudan: Challenges of Separation………………………….3

PHOTOGRAPHY Yahya Mohamed Gazelle Kemuma

CONTRIBUTORS Biko Jackson, Nairobi Godwin Muhwezi, Arusha Edward Githae, Kigali Silvia Rugina, Kigali Godfrey Musila, Johannesburg John Gachie, Juba John Mulaa, Washington DC Julius Mbaluto, London Manoah Esipisu, London Kennedy Abwao, Addis Ababa Mishaeli Ondieki, Los Angeles Rodney Muhumuza, Kampala Peter Mwaura, Nairobi Robert Mugo, Alberta, Canada Wangari Maathai, Nairobi

CIRCULATION & SUBSCRIPTION Stephen Otieno

ADMINISTRATION Josephine Wambui, Charles Kimakwa

PRINTER

IMMUNITIES & IMPUNITIES……..……………4 YEAR ENDER Window on the World……………………………..…..10-11

THE REGION You Want Another Rap? I want Another Term! …14-16 When Pirates of Somalia Join Hands with Money Launderers……...................…24-25 Made-in-Kenya Royal Nuptials…………………..….28-29 Region’s Stake in Sudan Referenda…………….......30-32

DNA Of Diplomacy, Dialogue and Development……...34-37 East Africa Rising: Year of Living Symbiotically............. ..................................................................................44-45 Will Ocampo Unravel Kenya’s Transitional Conundrum? ................................….46-47

INDUSTRY NEWS iWay Africa: Continents’ Path To Broadband Connectivity…………….............….76-77

GLOBAL STAGE Obama after the Shellacking…………………………78-79 Diplomatic Debacle of the Decade…..…………….80-85

DEA BOOKS The Bank That Grave Kenyans a Savings Culture.......83

PERSPECTIVES ‘The Diaspora is the 48th County’ ………….......….86-87

CULTURE Season of Holidays…………….………....…………….88-89

ODYSSEYS Ethiopia: Diplomacy’s Roundtable, Crossroads of Civilization………............................92-93

Ramco Printing Works

GREEN AGENDA DISCLAIMER: Diplomat East Africa may not be copied and or transmitted or stored in any way or form, electronically or otherwise, without the prior and written consent of the publisher. Diplomat East Africa is published at Vision Plaza, Ground Floor, Suite 19, Mombasa Road, by Global Village Publishers (EA) Limited, Box 23399 – 0625, and Telephone 020-2525253/4/5. Registered at the GPO as a newspaper.

Topography of Scarcity: The Africa Water Atlas....56-57 A Green Economy for Africa……………......………..58-59

ECONOMY E.A’s Bluest Blue Chip………………………...............60-64 Maasai Market: A Moveable Cultural Feast……....66-67 ICT Icon: The Power of Technology to Transform Lives..............................72-73

DEA HOTELS A Five-Star Treat for the Holiday Season………....94-95

ENVOYS OF SPORT It was the Year of the World Cup & Kenya’s David Rudisha…………...................................................…96-97

DIARY……………………………………………………….98 December - January 2011

11 11

Celebrating 1st Anniversary

Celebrating 1st Anniversary

..,One YearCelebrating Later1st Anniversary

BIRTHDAY CHEER

Window on the World Diplomat East Africa Celebrates its first anniversary, a year of achievements

12

December-January 2011

January - February 2010

ºDNA

Diplomacy•News•Analysis

KENYA

‘There is no danger in pushing too hard’

In the very first of DIPLOMAT EAST AFRICA’S wide-ranging, in-depth, and exclusive interviews with people in the news who shape and lead public opinion as well as influence the making and implementation of policy in the eastern Africa region, United States Ambassador to Kenya MICHAEL RANNEBERGER spoke to Special Correspondent WYCLIFFE MUGA (pictured) in several sittings in Nairobi.

&)

January - February 2010

them waiting?

Something else happened. As Global Village Publishers EA Limited, we have global partners in Global Village Partnerships and they liked our idea of a journal of diplomacy and sought to make it better. Why not publish an online magazine called Diplomat Africa, Mr Sven Boermester, the President of Global Village Partnerships, asked. We agreed and so we have this as a sister publication online, www.diplomatafrica.org Diplomat East Africa will always be ready to take new ideas on board, to change with the times and because of them in order to break news and analyse it for our readers at the earliest opportunity.

We have already demonstrated that we are a serious title. We have brilliant writers in Nairobi, Kampala, Kigali, Dar-es-Salaam, Addis

TAKING THE LONG VIEW:

US Ambassador Michael Ranneberger in his garden at 93 Muthaiga Road, Nairobi.

PHOTOS: ROGER WARREN

D

iplomat East Africa is one-year-old with this issue. This time last year, we had just made the switch from putting out Diplomat Kenya to Diplomat East Africa. Yes, our original name was Diplomat Kenya, but as we put it together it dawned on us that the five-member East African Community was to enter a common market treaty in November. We could not be left behind; if the region was moving to create a bigger trading bloc, we could not confine ourselves to Kenya. We, therefore, shifted gears and became Diplomat East Africa.

There is another reason why we did that. We said in our founding editorial that with that issue we were laying the building blocks for a panAfrican title. This was a good way to begin our journey to that end.

That was before we hit the streets, mail boxes and bookshop and supermarket shelves. When we did, we started off as bi-monthly, but midstream we changed course and became a monthly.

As news people used to the hustle and bustle of newsrooms and the constant buzz of news, we found it difficult to sit around and wait for two months to hit the streets while keeping what we had under wraps. We could not bear it; the time was short but the waiting was long — much too long for our liking. Secondly, we reckoned our readers need to get information at the earliest opportunity. Why keep

January - February 2010

&* &*

Ababa, Khartoum, Juba, London, Washington DC, Los Angeles, South Africa, Australia, Malaysia, to name but a few.

We have interviewed some of the best-known newsmakers in the region, among them presidents Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Omar Al-Bashir of Sudan, Ambassador Michael Ranneberger of the United States in Kenya, Ambassador Margit Hellwig-Boette of Germany to Kenya, former UNEP boss Dr Ann Tibaijuka, current UN-in-Nairobi head Dr Achim Steiner as well as the Chairman of the African Union Secretariat, Dr Jean Ping.

From the outset we made it clear that we would pursue issues affecting the region and which affect its relationship with the rest of the world and provide a platform for stimulating and serious discourse.

We have lived up to that promise.

We have always brought the latest

..,One Year Later

Celebrating 1st Anniversary

issue affecting troubletorn Somalia to the table with a view to galvanising action from the Somali people themselves, the African Union and the international community to help restore Somalia to order.

Diplomat East Africa has done the same for the Sudan, which only emerged from a vicious internal war that pitted North against South and claimed two million lives.

Our pitch all along, and which we repeated in our November issue, is that peace must prevail even if, come the referendum •DNA on January 9, the South votes to secede. This journal did not just transform ‘Global Financial from Diplomat Kenya to Crisis Began as a Housing Problem’ Diplomat East Africa in name only; it has endeavoured to encourage the development of the East African Community and the Common Market as veritable drivers of the emergence of the region as a continental and global player in finance.

Piracy continues to be a major challenge for the region and the world, seriously damaging the maritime trade in the Indian Ocean and escalating the On the global stage in the price of moving goods and doing eponymous section we have tackled business throughout the region’s matters of international finance and hinterland. We have been and given voice to issues raised by the remain on top of the story.

World Bank and the International Democracy, good governance Monetary Fund, especially with and human rights have been a staple regard to how their policies impact of Diplomat East Africa. We have Africa. We have also delved into raised issues regarding the conduct American, Asian and European of elections and referenda in the politics, again the idea being to region as well as providing a platform show that Canadian media scholar for discussion of the conduct of the Marshall McLuhan was right in International Criminal Court and its describing the world as a global relationship with governments on village. When the British election in the continent.

May failed to produce a clear winner, RETURN FROM APOCALYPSE:

Rwanda's President Paul Kagame

•DNA

Diplomacy•News•Analysis

RESURGENT RWANDA

The World Did Not Do Enough' PRESIDENT PAUL KAGAME of Rwanda was interviewed online for DIPLOMAT EAST AFRICA by MANOAH ESIPISU, the Kenyan journalist and diplomat who serves as Deputy Spokesperson at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London. Excerpts of the conversation

DIPLOMAT EAST AFRICA: How do you see the East African Community evolving and how can the Commonwealth assist in this regard?

PRESIDENT KAGAME: Our vision is for an East Africa where individual national interests take a back seat — where we jointly pull together in driving economic development through increased trade and investment, improving the wellbeing of all our citizens and promoting regional peace.

The East African Community has the massive potential for improving the lives of over 130 million people. To this end we have worked together on setting up a Customs Union and have signed a Common Market agreement which we hope will boost our already combined GDP of over US$70

March - April 2010

March - April 2010

•DNA

Diplomacy•News•Analysis

UNITED NATIONS: Portrait of a global civil servant

DR ANNA KAJUMULO TIBAIJUKA of Tanzania is UnderSecretary General of the UN and Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat). A veteran of the UN system, she is also the author of Building Prosperity, Housing and Economic Development and the winner of the 2009 Gotesborg Award for Sustainable Development, widely considered to be the ‘Nobel Prize’ for the environment. She was interviewed by Diplomat East Africa’s BOB JOB WEKESA in Nairobi. Excerpts:

PHOTOS: YAHYA MOHAMED

18

March - April 2010

DIPLOMAT EAST AFRICA: Most East Africans have heard about Dr Anna Kajumulo Tibaijuka and UN-Habitat. However, many may not be familiar with your work and that of UN-Habitat. Please shed light on your role as Executive Director of UN-Habitat and the organization?

DR ANNA KAJUMULO TIBAIJUKA: My role and that of colleagues in UN-Habitat is implementation of the decisions made at meetings such as the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements, resolutions of the Governing Council and, generally, the strengthening of UN-Habitat to meet its mandates. Our work is to attempt to meet the mandate of a more sustainable urban growth. I don’t do this alone, as I am part of the great UN family where every-

body plays his or her role in the implementation, coordination and monitoring of what we refer to as the Habitat Agenda.

Ultimately, we seek to address urban poverty, which is a crosscutting and multifaceted undertaking. We do not work in isolation, because ours is a UN programme with many back-and-forth linkages with other UN agencies, governments, local authorities, civil society organisations, the private sector, communities and professionals.

We implement our decisions through partnerships. For instance, with financial institutions such as Kenya’s Housing and Finance Corporation, we look to increase access to affordable finance. We do not pretend to know everything in matters of urbani-

GREATNESS IN SIMPLICITY:

Like mother Nature, it is difficult to pinpoint what makes Tibaijuka tick

March - April 2010

23 23

Diplomacy•News•Analysis

sation and in many instances we play a facilitative role, providing linkages.

Q: As you prepare to leave UNHabitat after a two-term tenure since 2000, share with us some of the challenges that you sought to overcome . . .

A: In a sense, an organisation such as UN-Habitat exists because of the recognition that there are challenges that need to be overcome. However, since the elevation of UN-Habitat to fully fledged UN programme status early last decade, the challenges of urban settlements have become more and more daunting and multifaceted, with a slowdown effect on the achievement of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Perhaps one of the first challenges, which were also an opportunity, that I and colleagues here had to tackle, was the revitalisation and reinvigoration of UN-Habitat when it became a programme of the UN. During my tenure, there have been challenges and achievements as relates to tackling the problem of ever-growing urban populations. The growth of cities is not a bad thing in itself, what is of concern is the trend where the growth of cities and towns is chaotic, leading to towns and cities becoming magnets of the poor. Talking of challenges in this respect, it is not always possible to convince everybody that planning for the irreversible rural-urban migration is important. As I often say, we need to realise that the human race has moved from Homo sapiens to Homo urbanus, making this a truly urban era. Our policies should reflect this shift.

Migration patterns worldwide are such that more and more people are leaving rural areas to go into urban centres. More challenges have come in the form of climate change, a major contrib-

24

uting factor for the rural-urban migration in the world and eastern Africa is by no means an exception. As earnings from agriculture dwindle, many people in the region are opting for livelihoods in urban centres. Conflicts in the region have also forced people into urban centres inadequately prepared to handle the population influxes.

In the last two or so years, the global financial crisis has had it effects more on the poor and most vulnerable in urban areas as much as it has affected the developed world. When people talk about the financial crisis, they focus on North America and Europe without realizing the impact on developing regions such as eastern Africa. One must be aware that the financial crisis was caused by housing problems, which is testimony to the overall challenges that human settlements have for the overall economic considerations in the world today. When you look at it critically, the loss of homes under the sub-prime mortgages

March - April 2010

we brought our African experience to bear in juxtaposing the outcomes.

Green Agenda is Diplomat East Africa’s forum for exposing, analysing and bringing perspective to matters concerning the environment. We made our entry into the market during the 2009 conference in Copenhagen about which we carried articles by Kenya’s Nobel Laureate, Prof Wangari Maathai. That signalled our intention to be big — and remain big — on conservation.

Last, which could well be first, Diplomat East Africa celebrates sport. That is as it should be, since the eastern Africa region is the home of world-beating athletes. Africa loves football and that explains why our June issue featured the FIFA World Cup in South Africa as its cover story.

It has been an eventful one year during which Diplomat East Africa has covered both the region and the world and established itself as a journal of repute and a voice of this part of the globe. We have lived up to our slogan of ‘Door to Region, Window on World’. We wish to take this early opportunity to thank most sincerely our readers throughout the region, continent and beyond and our advertisers and subscribers who have supported us in this time of global financial hardship.

Celebrate this anniversary with us and then stay with us till the next; we promise not to disappoint you

Worldwide, over fifty per cent of the approximately one billion urban dwellers live in slums and squatter settlements.

Sub-Saharan Africa (where East Africa is located) accounts for over 60 per cent of the slum dwellers

19 19

burst in the US has a resonance with the lack of safe and secure settlements in cities like Dar es Salaam, Nairobi, Kampala, Kigali and others in this region.

Q: What does the continuing urbanisation trend mean for eastern Africa?

A: With more and more people opting to settle in urban areas, we are experiencing what could be referred to as the urban era. For the East Africa region, the rise in urban settlements poses a challenge in the sense that most of the inhabitants of the cities and towns live in slums and squalid conditions in these urban spaces.

Worldwide, over fifty per cent of

December - January 2011

13 13

•THE REGION Eastern Africa Beat

BAG OF TRICKS

You Want Another Rap? I Want Another Term!

Incumbent could face his Waterloo at forthcoming polls if seven-strong galaxy of opposition contestants fields single candidate, most likely Dr Kizza Besigye, long- time personal doctor and ally-turned foe

By GODWIN MUHWEZI-BONGE

O

ne of the key h i g h l i g h t s in Uganda’s presidential campaigns is the release of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s new hit single You Want Another Rap? a rendition of two popular traditional Kinyankole rhymes. The US online newspaper The Huffington Post, under the headline “Yes, Sevo! Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni Has Hit Rap Song”, posted a YouTube video of the head of state and government doing his thing.

In an era in which presidential candidates have turned to social networking media to woo young voters, Museveni and his political strategists needed something new to tap into the traditionally elusive constituent. And it came in the form of a rap song whose popularity appears to have surprised even Museveni himself.

To appeal to the youth, Museveni needed to reveal his softer side away from the army general who surprised Ugandans when he showed up in military fatigues during his tour of the Teso region to visit civilians displaced by mudslides early this year.

Museveni’s political strategists appear to have read the mood well in a country in which local musicians seem to enjoy near-cult

14

status. His first attempt at music stardom has proven a success as the song turned into a popular hit on numerous radio stations and the youth have massively downloaded it as a popular ringtone. It effectively diminished the bad publicity his government solicited when it seized a consignment of books that assessed Museveni’s 24 years in power.

In October 2010, the Uganda Revenue Authority together with other security agencies seized a consignment of books authored

by Dr Olivia Kobusinge, Dr Kizza Besigye’s younger sister, citing security reasons. Besigye has been Museveni’s biggest challenger in the last two presidential elections and a leading opposition figure in Uganda since 2000.

COUNTER PRODUCTIVE

The book, titled The Correct Line? Uganda Under Museveni examined his 24 years in power, highlightingbrokenpromisesduring his rule. But the seizure proved counterproductive as Ugandans went up in arms, criticising the government’s actions. Interestingly, as it often turns out in book banning episodes, the government’s actions created more publicity for the book than it would have otherwise received. It is during this furore that Museveni’s strategists chose

December-January 2011

INCUMBENT: Uganda President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni

to release his hit song, in what has turned out to be a key highlight in an otherwise dull campaign period, at least by Ugandan standards.

This year’s presidential campaigns have been considered dull because of the government’s decision to let the opposition campaign with relative freedom. As such, they have been devoid of the drama that characterised previous presidential campaigns, such as the arrest of Besigye on his return from exile or his being nominated while in jail.

Besigye’s candidature over the past two campaigns, however, has not been without merit. He forced the government into doubling scholarships to students in public universities from 2,000 in 2000 to the current 4,000. His opposition to graduated tax also forced the government to scrap a levy that had proven costly to collect and a menace to the common citizen.

MALPRACTICES

Ugandansarefearfulthatelectoral malpractices which characterised the past two campaigns are likely to be repeated on an even bigger scale.

The first NRM primary elections under universal adult suffrage were marred by electoral malpractices, raising fears that the ruling NRM CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

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COVERS OF HISTORY: Images that capture DEA's history, happenings in region in 2010 and pointers to 2011 and beyond

Door to Region, Window on World

www.diplomateastafrica.com www.diplomatafrica.com 15 15

December - January 2011

•THE REGION Eastern Africa Beat

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14 may take what happened in its primaries to a higher scale once national elections commence.

On the back of Museveni’s waning popularity, based on the results of the last two presidential elections, Ugandans expected a united opposition in an attempt to thwart him from getting a truly historic 30 years in power, six years more than the seven presidents who ruled Uganda between 1962, when the country first attained independence, and 1986, when he seized power in a military coup.

The opposition has fielded seven candidates, the highest number since the National Resistance Movement took to elective politics in 1996. The opposition is made up of the Democratic Party (DP) and Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), the country’s pre-independence and the oldest parties, which have over the years lost ground to Besigye’s Forum for Democratic Change (FDC). Mr Norbert Mao and Mr Olara Otunnu, both Acholis from Northern Uganda, are the parties’ flag-bearers respectively.

The Inter-Party Coalition (IPC), a loose grouping of FDC, Justice Forum, Conservative Party, and Ssubii, a splinter group from the DP opposed to Mao’s leadership.

Besigye is IPC’s flag-bearer. Other contenders include Ms Beti Kamya of the Uganda Federal Alliance, Dr Abed Bwanika of the People’s Development Party (PDP) and a twotime contestant, Mr Jaberi BidandiSsali of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and Mr Samuel Lubega, an independent candidate who broke ranks with DP. While the opposition has fielded seven candidates, the actual contest will still boil down to Besigye and Museveni. Besigye’s popularity soared during the 2006 presidential election after he was arrested in November 2005 while returning from exile in South Africa. His arrest

16

and eventual incarceration at the Luzira Prison on charges of treason and rape turned him into a national hero of sorts as his nomination was achieved while he was behind bars.

The NRM is widely accused of failure to fight corruption. A Vice President of the Republic and eight ministers are currently being investigated for corruption and related charges during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 2007. Poor roads, and poor remuneration of civil servants, are some of the issues that have taken centre stage in this year’s presidential campaigns.

Kampala city has one of the worst urban roads in East Africa. Museveni has in turn asked officials from the Ministry of Works and Transport to fix city roads within 90 days, according to media reports. He has also promised to turn Uganda into a middle-income country with revenue from newfound oil deposits.

EDUCATION

The opposition has promised to improve education standards, especially at primary school level which were compromised with the introduction of Universal Free Primary Education, increasing salaries for civil servants, especially teachers and the police, as well as fixing the country’s deplorable infrastructure.

While Besigye hails from Western Uganda, same as Museveni, he has failed to pose a serious challenge in the region and is unlikely to do that this time, which leaves him with northern Uganda and some parts of eastern Uganda, and Central Buganda. Besigye, for instance, has traditionally won in northern Uganda, Central Uganda, especially Kampala, and some parts of North Eastern. However, the opposition now has two candidates in Otunnu and Mao from northern Uganda, a fact that will likely divide the

December-January 2011

The opposition has promised to improve education standards, especially at primary school level which were compromised with the introduction of Universal Free Primary Education,

increasing salaries for civil servants, especially teachers and the police, as well as fixing the country’s deplorable infrastructure

opposition vote.

Central to Besigye’s campaign therefore is capturing the Buganda vote, the largest ethnic grouping in Uganda. To do this, Besigye has enlisted the support of Buganda Kingdom’s former Prime Minister, Joseph Mugwanyamuli Ssemwogere, a respectable figure in Buganda Kingdom politics, who has been the kingdom’s executive head for over 10 years.

Buganda in return wants a federal system of government which they believe will be key to strengthening the Kingdom’s role in Uganda’s politics. However, those opposed to Buganda’s demands believe that federalism will give it an undue advantage over other regions, given its strategic geographical location.

Ms Beti Kamya, a first-time candidate and the only woman in the presidential race under has made federalism her central campaign message. But it has failed to attract the Kingdom’s heavyweights, who still view her as a weak candidate unable to mount a meaningful challenge to the incumbent.

Although there are four candidates in Bwanika, Kamya, and Lubega from Central Uganda, which has also traditionally been an opposition stronghold, they are considered lightweights and therefore unlikely to mount any serious challenge while BidandiSsali is considered to be in his political evening years.

While Ugandans appear to have chided the opposition for being too divided, some believe that by fielding many candidates, the opposition is likely to eat into not just Besigye’s vote but also Museveni’s. This could force a re-run during which the opposition would coalesce behind Besigye for the final run. Whether the opposition will be able to pull off such a feat and stop Museveni from rapping his way into another term, lies in the results of the March 2011 presidential vote

â&#x20AC;˘THE REGION Eastern Africa Beat

DISABILITY DAY The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is observed annually on 3 December to promote awareness on disability issues, the fundamental rights of persons with disabilities and their integration into the main stream of each aspect of the social, political, economic and cultural realms of their communities.

The day extends an opportunity to initialise action to reach the target of full and equal pleasure of human rights and contribution in society by disabled persons, launched by the World Program of Action for Disabled Persons, declared by the UN General Assembly in 1982.

Actual facts and figures from the World Health Organization affirm that there are 600 million disabled people worldwide, about almost 10 per cent of the entire global population. It is also estimated that about 80 per cent of these disabled people live in developing nations.

The role of the community is reforming mindsets to accept that disability is not inability. Various projects have been initiated, such as Run for Sight, an annual event held every October in Kenya with its ambassador, Henry Wanyoike behind it. It is to help blind people gain sight through restorative procedures and surgery. Wanyoike is a marathoner and has run both local and international marathons though he is blind.

The event has attracted international attention and runners from all over the world.

Globally, it is estimated that one in every ten people has a disability and recent studies show that persons with disabilities comprise 20 per cent of the population living in below the poverty line in developing countries.

This day provides a chance to make a dedicated commitment to the principles of empowering disabled persons and to free them from the yokes imposed by society and which prevent them realising their full potential.

It is an apt and opportune moment to reflect on the role that they should play in bettering their own lives and livelihoods as well as in making their rightful contribution to the communities they live in.

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IT Proffessional Services

How our Diplomats Plan to Celebrate the Festive Season Norwegian Ambassador to Kenya, HE Per Ludvig Magnus “I have been in Kenya for only two months and am very optimistic about my tour of duty. I really love Kenya and as a representative of the Norwegian Government, our main interest is in the shipping industry and especially the fight against piracy. For the holidays, am still exploring the best spots in this beautiful country.”

Nigerian Ambassador to Kenya, Dr Chijioke Wilcox Wigwe “I just want to take this time as an opportunity to relax. Rest is a welcomed relief after an eventful and busy year. I will be in Kenya as I love it here.”

Ambassador of Mozambique to Kenya, HE Manuel Jose Goncalves “Am still new to Kenya and therefore am taking time to get to know the country a little bit more. I hope to enjoy some of the best spots that Kenya has to offer.”

Cyprus High Commissioner to Kenya, HE Agis Loizou “For the festive season am going home to see my parents and grandmother. I have missed them immensely and the holidays are about family and giving and so am looking forward to going back home to Cyprus to be with my family.”

Finnish Ambassador to Kenya, HE Heli Sirve “This Christmas, I will stay right here in Nairobi. Am planning to visit some of my Finnish friends residing in Kenya. One of my very close friends will be coming to visit together with her family, and they will stay with me as they tour the Maasai Mara and Mombasa. Am really looking forward to it.”

18

December-January 2011

•THE REGION Eastern Africa Beat

REGIONAL FAILURE OF POLITICAL WILL

East Africa Fails to Slay Menacing Dragon of Graft

Political language is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable and to give an appearance of solidarity to pure wind — George Orwell

By EDWARD GITHAE

A

glance at the latest Tr a n s p a re n c y I n t e r n a t i o n a l ’s C o r r u p t i o n Perception Index (CPI) establishes that the most stable African countries are the least corrupt, while nearly failed states are perceived as the most corrupt. In East Africa, all the nations — with the exception of Rwanda — performed dismally.

In the CPI, Rwanda is the only country in the East African Community (EAC) to feature in the top 20 in Africa. Tanzania is ranked 26, followed by Uganda and Kenya, which are placed at position 30 and 41 respectively, while Burundi hobbles in at the 46th spot.

What really ails a region that has for long shown immense potential but remains shackled by the tentacles of corruption?

Kenya’s new political order has in the recent past witnessed some fighting spirit against graft.

Rift Valley politician William Ruto was suspended from the Cabinet over his role in a suspect forest land deal. Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetang’ula stepped aside from the Cabinet along with his Permanent Secretary Thuita Mwangi amid claims of embezzlement of over Sh1 billion in missions abroad.

Meanwhile, Mayor of Nairobi Geoffrey Majiwa was bundled out of City Hall and dumped into police custody after allegations

of misappropriation of funds in a cemetery land deal. Sources say that four other ministers are under investigation by the Kenya AntiCorruption Commission (KACC).

According to the Sunday Nation, a source close to President Kibaki said he was concerned that some ministers were preparing for life outside the Cabinet by engaging in high-level corruption.

Despite the current anticorruption crusade, Kenya, like fellow East African states,

has lived below its potential since government performance has greatly been pulled back by a light-fingered elite.

Tanzania’s recent campaigns were repeatedly overshadowed by the ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi’s (CCM) perceived failure to fight corruption.The opposition Chama Cha Demokrasia Na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) contender in the recent presidential polls, Dr Willibrod Slaa, provided a stern test for incumbent President Jakaya Kikwete mainly due to his anti-corruption platform.

Many had predicted that Kikwete would unwaveringly fight graft in government upon his election in 2005. Kikwete did assert his intent to fight the vice, but his perceived closeness to tainted figures such as Edward Lowassa, who resigned as Prime Minister after awarding a contract to a phantom electricity firm, only served to betray his intentions.

Correspondingly, another election campaign in East Africa is being blighted by talk of sleaze.

Many question whether Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has the willpower or the moral authority to so much as slap a number of corrupt cronies on the wrist.

Museveni’s campaign pledge to fight corruption is viewed with wariness since the state of affairs merely gets worse.

Failure to chastise the corrupt fat cats close to the leadership in the East African nations chips

December - January 2011

19 19

•THE REGION Eastern Africa Beat

away at numerous political proclamations to fight the vice.

Meanwhile, the lowly placing of Burundi has momentously stirred President Pierre Nkurunziza to instigate a zero tolerance crusade.

Except in Rwanda, the principles of accountability, transparency and veracity that should characterise public service have long been overlooked.

The unconditional will of leadership to deal decisively with the vice and censure those involved would go a long way in cutting back on corruption. Instituting anticorruption bodies, making decrees and drafting numerous regulations abound. But empty anti-graft cells throughout the region only mock the feeble good intentions, reducing them to the Orwellian “pure wind”.

A leader who leads the fight against corruption from the front is a rare sight indeed in region.

The extraordinary lassitude in taking action compromises reputations as graft continues unabated, much to the chagrin of not only the population but foreign investors too.

In spite of recurrent human rights accusations, Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame has won plaudits the world over for his nononsense crackdown on public officials who misappropriate funds. While cases of corruption crop up once in a while, any talk of corruption, whether in a public or private institution, is treated with deterrent distaste.

For instance, while bribery among traffic police officers in Kenya, Uganda, Burundi and Tanzania transpires in full public view, a Rwandan police officer typically acts with alacrity when meting out penalties to errant drivers without any form of inducement whatsoever.

The ascendancy of Rwanda as

20

WORLD AIDS DAY 2010 A generation born free of HIV is within the world’s reach World AIDS Day was marked with a sense of victory after years of failed concepts to produce either a cure or preventive tool against HIV infection.

After 25 years since the first case of HIV was diagnosed in Kenya, an extensive study has been released and indicated that a drug already being used to treat AIDS can prevent the spread of the epidemic in many cases if taken as a preventive.

the 2009 World’s Best Business Reformer is further testimony that this is a country that is indeed serious in cutting down on avenues that encourage corruption.

Impunity at the top entrenches graft as part of the social fabric, leading to the population acknowledging it as part of life.

Subsequently, the population learns to part with a “gift” to obtain public service.

Public servants and politicians calculatingly give rise to bottlenecks to create openings through which to loot public coffers while awarding government contracts. This is common where leaders embed patronage as an indispensable ingredient in the political power play and switch from serving the public good to gratifying self interests.

Poor service delivery is all too painfully clear in the East African nations for lack of political will.

Leaders are adept at evasion and half-truths. Rwanda, has a thing or two to teach the rest of the region on leading the fight against corruption from the front. This ethical mess that shames East Africa, stagnates the development process and gives the people of the region a raw deal

December-January 2011

This is a boost to the researchers who have spent sleepless nights working on a control for the virus.

The theme being ‘Universal Access and Human Rights’, the emphasis is making sure that everyone who qualifies for treatment gets access.

The Kenyan Government 20082012 plan on HIV is to achieve universal access to treatment.

This year’s theme challenges governments and policymakers to strive towards prevention and care and urges them to recognise these as human rights.

According to the National and AIDS/ STI Control Programme (Nascop), there are 7,000 prostitutes in Nairobi every night. With such an alarming figure, the HIV and AIDS Prevention and Control Act 2006 came into effect on December 1, 2010. It states that sexual partners who willfully infect others face a fine of Sh500,000 or alternatively risk being jailed for a term not exceeding seven years with or without a fine.

A generation born free of HIV and AIDS is within the world’s reach. Africa is at a tipping point.

Taking the HIV test is a personal decision to achieving a target of zero new infections. This is a result of endless interventions undertaken since AIDS was declared a national disaster in 1999.

•THE REGION Eastern Africa Beat

SLAVERY SCORE CARD

The Horror that is Human Trafficking

Globally, between 600,000 and 800,000 people are trafficked annually across borders and millions more internally, according to a US State Department report

By RABURA KAMAU

W

hen Kenyan media exposed the horrid truth that five pitifully disabled child beggars on the streets of Nairobi were someone’s ‘investment’, for a ruthless couple in Eastlands there was understandable consternation and widespread public condemnation.

The bizarre expose, caught on camera, uncovered the scheme by a Tanzanian national and his Kenyan wife, in which the two would hire a taxi every day to ferry the children to the city centre long before daybreak, leaving them at strategic positions with begging bowls in hand, and pick them up later in evening with all the day’s collection.

On the particular day the law finally caught up with the two, the children had managed to col-

lect KSh13,000 (US$163), meaning that with such a daily average, the couple’s monthly collection could reach KSh390,000 (US$4,875), which is executive pay in East Africa.

However, the most shocking part of the story was that while the crippled children spent days without food, care and at the mercy of the elements, the couple lived lavishly, indifferent to the suffering the children went through daily in the harsh city streets.

The story boggles the mind.

After all, these were children the couple had trafficked from Tanzania ostensibly for a better life in Nairobi. And with such a promise, the parents must have released their children all too willingly to the couple, seeing and hoping for a brighter future for them.

A month earlier, Robinson Mkwama, a 20-year-old Kenyan al-

bino man, had been duped by a friend into going with him to Tanzania with the promise of landing a job as a loader for a transport company, apparently a better paying job than what Mkwama earned back at home in western Kenya as a watchman.

Little did Mkwama know that his 28-year-old friend, Nathan Mutei, was planning to sell him to a witch doctor for some US$250,000 for his body parts, which were to be used for black magic. A last-minute tipoff to the police and the subsequent arrest of Mutei is what saved poor Mkwama as the deal was being concluded.

DEEPLY-ROOTED

The two scenarios above, which followed each other closely, capture, rather graphically, how deeply-rooted the problem of human trafficking is in East Africa, as well as globally, and how shocking and bizarre it can become.

“We may not have the exact figures for this region, but, globally, between 600,000 and 800,000 people are trafficked annually across borders while millions more are trafficked internally, according to the US State Department report,” Nelly Barasa, a legal officer at the

December - January 2011

21 21

•THE REGION Eastern Africa Beat

International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Eastern Africa Regional Office in Nairobi, told Diplomat East Africa.

“A comprehensive study is yet to be conducted to ascertain the real figures in the region. Furthermore, human trafficking is illegal and therefore is done clandestinely, making it very difficult for one to know the exact number of the victims in the region,” she added.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the counter-terrorism and drugs agency also mandated to fight global human trafficking defines the latter as the acquisition of people by improper means such as force, fraud or deception, with the aim of exploiting them.

A report by IOM titled ‘Human Trafficking in Eastern Africa’, published in 2008, identified promises for a better life as the main driving force behind the vice.

“The promise of a better job, better living conditions, education, escape from conflicts and even food and shelter have led to many vulnerable individuals falling prey to traffickers both internally and externally,” said Barasa.

During an interview with the Voice of America (VoA) last October, Alice Kimani, IOM’s countertrafficking programme officer in Nairobi, noted that all the nations in East Africa have been identified as sources, transit and destination countries for human trafficking, adding that though it affects both genders and all ages, some are more attractive targets for traffickers.

“Children and young people are more vulnerable. However, there’s also a trend of men being trafficked, even older men, for purposes of forced labour, though not in large numbers,” she said.

The IOM report identified what it called push-and-pull factors that initiate and accelerate the vice. Push factors are situations that lead to vulnerability and were identified as individual character-

22

istics of the victims, the strength of family and social set ups and networks and the general community characteristics. Poorly organised societies, little education, poverty, conflicts, cultural breakdowns, desire for a better life, discrimination and neglect only accelerate the push factors.

Pull factors, on the other hand, were identified as availability of jobs and the good life in the destination areas, military servicesrelated work and even rituals. The report noted that in Uganda, for example, trafficking of people is done to provide fighters, sex slaves, porters and field workers for the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebel group.

DESTINATIONS

In all the East African countries, trafficked people are mainly used to work in agricultural fields, homes as domestic servants, mines, and as commercial sex workers with rural and slum areas being the origin, while the urban areas, intensive agricultural and tourist centres were identified as the main destinations.

“We are running campaigns in the media and at different public fora to sensitise people on the need to be vigilant. At the global level, we are using the 4Ps strategy (Protection, Prevention, Presentation and Partnership) in collaboration with governments and civil societies. The strategy is aimed at building capacity in institutions towards legal, medical, policy formulation and law enforcement, provision of shelters, rehabilitation and training for the vulnerable and re-integration for those rescued from servitude,” added Barasa.

However, as long as poverty, illiteracy, social and armed conflicts and hopelessness persist in East Africa, the war on human trafficking remains far from being won.

Barasa observed, for instance, that the North Rift and North Eastern regions in Kenya remain uniquely

December-January 2011

“Children and

young people are more vulnerable. However, there’s also a trend of men being trafficked, even older men, for purposes of forced labour,

vulnerable to the vice for different reasons.

“The post-election violence that rocked the country in 2007 led to displacement of people mainly in the North Rift, while climatic changes that prompted perennial massive droughts in North Eastern counties led to increased food insecurity and poverty, factors that can easily turn the locals into easy prey for traffickers,” Barasa explained.

However, on a more positive note, though Rwanda and Burundi have not yet formulated national policies on human trafficking, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania have passed policies and legislation on the issue fairly recently. Nevertheless, despite lack of a national policy for Rwanda, according to Kimani, it is “the only country in the region where the government has established both shelter and hotline services to assist victims of gender violence and trafficking”.

To boost the war on human trafficking, UNODC has also launched The Blue Heart Campaign, aimed at “rallying world public opinion against human trafficking”.

These are definitely great strides towards confronting the vice.

However, inter-governmental cooperation, proper and targeted information, timely conflict resolution and sustainable economic empowerment of the people seem to be the main long-term winning strategies towards eradicating trafficking.

Swift justice and harsh exemplarily punitive measures against traffickers should also be encouraged.

The two years that the couple (Kenyan man and Tanzanian woman) above will serve in prison and the 15 that were meted to Mutei are encouraging punitive actions. But even more encouraging is the fact that, in both cases, judgments were meted out within less than two months after the culprits were apprehended. If justice is to serve its needs, it must be swift. That is as it should be

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•THE REGION Eastern Africa Beat

SEABORNE NIGHTMARE

When Pirates of Somalia Join Hands with Money Launderers

They are given intelligence. There is a mother ship somewhere. This is no operation of a rag-tag army. It is organised crime. It is not about traditional fishermen paddling wooden boat — Head of the AU Peace Support Operation Division SIVUYILE BAM

By RABURA KAMAU

W

hen the price of petroleum products in Kenya rose steadily a few months ago, hitting the all-time highs last experienced in July 2008, several explanations were given for the runaway hikes.

These ranged from the marginal increases of crude oil prices in the world market to a dispute between the Energy Regulatory Board (ERB) and some oil companies as well as inefficiencies at the Kenya Petroleum Refineries Ltd (KPRL).

Add piracy to that cauldron and the mix is now explosive.

Attacks by pirates on ships plying the Indian Ocean’s Gulf of Aden and the Somali Basin are said to have contributed immensely to the escalating prices.

Emboldened by the quick and huge ransoms often running into millions of dollars, the pirates have increased the frequency of

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December-January 2011

attacks while widening their areas of operation farther and wider than before, making the shipping corridor one of the most dangerous in the world.

This in turn has forced shipping agents to raise insurance premiums on goods destined for the region besides hiring escort guards. And where this is not the case, the ships are forced to take longer routes to avoid the dangerous spots.

The cost of all this is then passed to the final consumers, thereby making imported goods more expensive.

And this is how piracy is causing a dizzying upward spiral in oil prices in the region.

“Piracy off the Somali coast has become a lucrative industry, therefore increasing the frequency of attacks and the areas of operations from the traditional Indian Ocean

waters near Somalia to such farflung areas as the Maldives Islands and even off the coast of Kenya near Lamu and Tanzania near Lindi and Dar es Salaam,” said Andrew Mwangura, the director of the Seafarers Assistance Programme (SAP), speaking to Diplomat East Africa. SAP is a voluntary charity organisation for merchant mariners.

“So far, 32 vessels with 568 mariners are still being held at different areas on the Somali coast as negotiations on ransom payment continues,” he added.

This is despite the presence of several NATO, Chinese, Turkish and Indian naval patrol ships whose mission is to protect this section of the ocean from the marauding

•THE REGION Eastern Africa Beat

pirates. Mwangura says the sheer size of the area of operation by the pirates makes it very difficult for gunboat diplomacy to succeed.

And the cost of the menace is getting higher for Kenya. According to Mwangura, the country will lose nearly US$200 million in increased shipping costs. Following the early December hijacking of a Malaysianflagged box ship, the MV Albedo, the number of hostages rose to 591 and the number of ocean-going vessels in captivity stood at 33.

The MV Albedo and her 23 crew members, comprising Sri-Lankan, Pakistani, Iranian and Bangla nationals, was hijacked by pirates en route to Mombasa from the UAE. The very fact that the pirates are able to attack vessels even in Kenyan waters with ease, as in October, makes it even costlier to the country as more resources have to be deployed for security, besides lost revenues from luxury sea cruises and fishing as people avoid venturing into the dangerous sea.

And Kenya may not be alone.

A report by the Africa Economic Development Institute (AEDI) titled ‘Pirates of Somalia’ released early this year indicated that Egypt risks losing substantial revenues as many shipping companies shun the Suez Canal, one of the top foreign exchange earners for that country.

Last year, revenues from use of the Suez Canal are said to have fallen from US$469.6 million in September to US$467.5 million in October and then to US$419.8 million in November. According to experts, revenues will dramatically decrease should the problem remain unresolved.

The consequences are also being felt in Somalia itself. According to the same report, Somalia receives approximately US$236.4 million annually in foreign economic aid.

This aid is necessary to provide food and basic provisions for millions of impoverished locals. However, the danger in Somali waters has forced aid organisations such as the World

Food Programme (WFP) to suspend shipments, putting Somalia’s food stock in serious jeopardy.

“Without food and other basic necessities, it will be very difficult for Somalia to grow and build a viable economy. In this way, acts of piracy spawned, in part, by economic hardship in Somalia are further aggravating the problem. Somali economic growth is, therefore, contingent upon the successful control of piracy in the Gulf of Aden,” the report says.

At the same time, success in dealing with the problem legally has never seemed so far off a prospect than after a Kenyan court ruled that the country lacks jurisdictional powers over crimes committed outside its territorial waters. Kenya was one of the few countries that agreed to try suspected Somali pirates arrested by multi-national patrol naval ships in its own jurisdiction.

High Court Judge, Mohammed Ibrahim argued that “the high seas are not and cannot be a place in Kenya or within the territorial waters of Kenya. In fact, by definition they are strictly deemed to be outside the jurisdiction of all states in the world or on earth unless some law in the state brings it into their local jurisdiction whether municipal law or an international convention.”

The subsequent order for the release of the defendants in the case put the trials of other suspects in Kenyan courts at the risk of going the same way, based on the principle of precedence.

This came hot on the heels of a threat by the minister for Foreign Affairs in July that Kenya would stop taking in any more suspects for trial for failure by the international community to offer the relevant support promised.

“An international tribunal, supported by all nations, should have been the best way to try the suspects,” said Mwangura.

According to Mwangura landbased anti-piracy measures aimed at stabilising Somalia while offering

“the high seas are not and cannot be

a place in Kenya

or within the territorial waters of Kenya.

alternative economic ventures for the desperate population will be the best solution to the problem. And African countries should also a bigger role in trying to stabilise Somalia, rather than leaving the issue entirely to the Western powers.

The problem cannot be effectively stemmed if efforts are not made towards identifying and punishing the financiers and beneficiaries of piracy ransoms, who are believed to be ensconced in Western capitals, the Middle East and Nairobi.

The Head of the AU Peace Support Operation Division, Sivuyile Bam, has called for Interpol to help crack “this criminal network” if victory on the war against piracy is ever to be realised.

HehasbeenquotedbyPanapressas saying that the level of sophistication in the attacks points to a well-funded operation. “The pirates are given intelligence. There is a mother ship somewhere. It is not an operation of a rag-tag army. It is organised crime.

It is not about traditional fishermen paddling wooden boats. The big ships cannot be climbed without the aid of certain equipment,” he said.

He added that the AU believes the crime networks are running the highly sophisticated operation with the help of international financial experts who are helping to clean up the millions of ransoms paid to the pirates for the release of ships under their captivity.

Bam said the huge ransom payments, amounting in some instances to US$12 million, are being laundered by people within the financial markets.

There have been fears that the real property boom witnessed lately in Nairobi’s Eastleigh area, a sprawling low-income residential conurbation dominated by immigrant Somalis is principally due to the piracy proceeds.

This prompted the government to order an inventory of all the buildings in the area late last year.

However, it remains unclear if this was ever done after the exercise initially ran into political trouble from some interested parties

December - January 2011

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2. DELIGHTED: Nigerian Ambassador Chijioke Wigwe, Burundian Ambassador Emmerence Ntahonkuriye and Ambassador of Mozambique , Manuel Goncalves

5. CAMARADERIE: Egyptian Ambassador Kadri Fadhi Abdel Mottaleb Mohammed, his wife Inas Mouttaleb and Morrocan Ambassador Abdelilah Benryane

3. SMILING:

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Jane Pento and Sally da Cunta of Micato Safaris

December-January 2011

Kiarie

6. HALLO: Finnish Ambassador Heli Sirve

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•THE REGION Eastern Africa Beat

J

ust when Kenya is at a critical moment, trying to re-brand itself, it has shot into the limelight — and for all the right reasons.

East Africa’s strongest economy is basking in the afterglow of a media blitz after the news of Prince William’s engagement to his girlfriend of eight years, Kate Middleton, which crystallised in Kenya.

It is here that the Prince actually proposed to his heartthrob, largely seen as a virtual reincarnation of William’s mother, the Princess of Wales, Lady Diana Spencer. And to complete the picture, even the engagement ring was that presented to Lady Di by Prince Charles, William’s father, in 1981 though the marriage ended in a bitter divorce.

But back to the present: “The Prince of Wales is delighted to announce the engagement of Prince William to Miss Catherine Middleton. The wedding will take place in the spring or summer of 2011 in London,” said the official residence statement.

The engagement announcement ends years of rumoured splits, reconciliations and willthey-won’t-they speculation. It will be the biggest royal wedding since Prince Charles married Lady Di exactly 30 years ago next year.

PERFECT The 28-year-old Prince, who adores the Rutundu log cabins retreat in Central Kenya, says it is so “inaccessible” and “private”, thus making it the perfect place to slip his mother’s sapphire and diamond engagement ring on Kate’s finger. The pair had arrived by helicopter and after settling in, went fishing for rainbow trout on Lake Rutundu. They failed to hook one. But later, in the evening, William made the catch of his life when Kate said “Yes” to his proposal of marriage. And that is putting it mildly.Kate Middleton’s engagement ring is the

28

LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE

Made-in-Kenya Royal Nuptials

Prince William proposed to his soon-to-be-wife in the same country where his grandmother, Elizabeth II, went up a tree as a Princess and climbed down as Queen. But Confidential VIP Tourism shouldn’t get in the way of Proposal Safaris, advises CAROL KIIRU

KATIE AND WILLIS: Ready for their big day

December-January 2011

•THE REGION Eastern Africa Beat

mother of all hearts literally. Seen as a natural successor to “Queen of Hearts” Princess Diana — she signed the note she had written at the visitor’s book of the lakeside haven on Mt Kenya as Catherine Middleton and penned: “Thank you for such a wonderful 24 hours! Sadly no fish to be found but we had great fun trying.

I love the warm fires and candle lights — so romantic! Hope to be back again soon.”

The ring is a huge sapphire surrounded by diamonds, last seen in public on the day Charles and Diana divorced in 1996. Asked about the ring the Prince said “It’s my mother’s engagement ring, so of course it’s very special to me, and Kate’s now very special to me, so it was only right to put the two together”.

TREETOPS It is clear that the heritage and splendour of Kenya have rubbed off on British royalty. Indeed, Queen Elizabeth II, on vacation in Kenya as Princess Elizabeth, went back a monarch from Treetops Hotel when she learned of the death of her father, George VI, which occurred on 6 February 1952. She was the first British monarch since the Act of Union in 1801 to be outside the country at the moment of succession, and also the first in modern times not to know the exact time of her accession (because George VI had died in his sleep at an unknown time). On the night her father died, Sir Horace Hearne, then Chief Justice of Kenya, escorted Princess Elizabeth to a State dinner at the Treetops Hotel. She returned immediately to Britain.

The legendary hunter Jim Corbett, a resident of Treetops at the time, wrote the now famous lines in the visitors’ log book: “For the first time in the history of the world, a young girl climbed into a tree one day a Princess and after having what she described as

MOTHER OF ALL RINGS: Kates Link to Diana

her most thrilling experience she climbed down from the tree next day a Queen — God bless her”.

The only downside to the Made-in-Kenya engagement was the fact that the couple had entered, stayed in and left Kenya completely Unnoticed, continuing a trend of recent times of personalities with a global household recognition undertaking confidential VIP tourism in the original Safari Country. Bill and Melinda Gates and even R&B superstar Alicia Keys have been furtively in and out of Kenya, with Kenyans only coming to hear of their safaris when they are well on the way home. Is this coyness a phenomenon of the Age of Terror?

Whatever it is, the Prince and his betrothed would have done Kenyan tourism a power of good by helping promote a new niche of holiday travel — the Proposal Safari — by not sneaking in and

out like that. Our papparazi too (and the millions of celebrity worshippers among us) would have been thrilled to bits by a regular meet-the-people safari by the Royal couple. Do I hear the chant Haki yetu, haki yetu on the streets of Nairobi? C’mon, Will and Kate, come to Kenya on your honeymoon — and this time come in openly. And then Proposal Safaris will really take off! 

December - January 2011

29 29

•THE REGION Eastern Africa Beat

SELF-DETERMINATION

Region’s Stake in Sudan Referenda

Brinkmanship, delay and broken agreements—old traditions of Sudanese politics—threaten to turn the political and technical challenges of the referenda into a national disaster. Only concerted international attention and skilful diplomacy can bring the process of self-determination to a successful conclusion

By PAM AHOK

T

he stakes in Sudan’s self-determination process have been clear, high-octane and widely recognised. The Sudan referendum is the culmination of six years of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and many more years of negotiations.

The Agreement is characteristic of Sudan’s history in addressing the root causes of the protracted conflict between North and South. It was widely assumed that there would be a majority vote against unity, both in Sudan and internationally. In the North this prospect is regarded with great unease — notably in the National Congress Party (NCP), the dominant party in the national government in Khartoum, which is strongly opposed to separation.

General Lazarus Sumbeiywo, Chair of the 2005 Sudan CPA, laments that as the Interim Period neared its end, he was yet to see tangible and practical things happening. “The UN Security Council recently came to Sudan and I hope that, as a result, they will find a solution for the referenda and beyond. It is important that the process be conducted peacefully and that the people accept the outcome, which will greatly change the future of Sudan.”

To this end, he says, financial and technical support from the international community will be

30

significant. “The region has a stake in the outcome of the referendum”, stressed the General.

Sumbeiywo feels the achievement of the CPA was a monumental task with challenges yet to be overcome. He further reiterated the need for serious preparations and avoidance of rhetoric coming from both Khartoum and Juba. “We owe it to the people of Sudan as guarantors to this process. Care must be taken to avoid a return to the conflict, especially if the South opts for secession,” he said.

December-January 2011

Of the same school of thought is Aly Verjee, an independent analyst specialising in the politics of contemporary Sudan and the Horn of Africa. He brings perspective to the Abyei and Southern Sudan — the two referenda viewed as the most critical events in the contemporary history of Sudan.

In the timely report, Verjee says statements by the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) have made it clear that from the point of view of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) — one of the two signatories to the CPA, adherence to the January 9 date is non-negotiable. The UN Security Council has underscored the importance of holding the referenda on time and ensuring adherence to international standards. But according to the report, relations between the SPLM and the National Congress Party (NCP), the two parties to the CPA, have become acrimonious; public statements are confrontational; resolution of disputes has been repeatedly delayed.

The key areas of dispute in both referenda are voter eligibility, voter registration procedures and border demarcation. In the case of the Abyei referendum there is also continued dispute over the appointment of the referendum commission.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 34

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•THE REGION Eastern Africa Beat

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 32 Physical demarcation of the boundary between North and South Sudan, as prescribed in the CPA, has not yet begun. The CPA does not require demarcation as a precondition for the referenda and the SPLM’s stated position is that it can be postponed until after the vote.

The problems in Abyei are even greater than those facing the referendum in the South.

The Referendum Act specifies residence in the Abyei area as the criterion, to include Ngok, Dinka and other residents.

The NCP demands the inclusion of the Misseriya population, either in its entirety, or the part that spends the dry season in the Abyei Area; the SPLM insists that only the permanently resident population, almost all Ngok Dinka, be included.

At this final stage, continues Verjee, brinkmanship, delay and broken agreements—old traditions of Sudanese politics—threaten to turn the political and technical challenges of the referenda into a national disaster. Only concerted international attention and skilful diplomacy can bring the process of self-determination in Sudan to a successful conclusion.

The absence of agreement so far on post-referendum arrangements increases the possibility that the result will be challenged, generating renewed conflict between the parties. In the event of a vote against unity, a southern referendum with serious technical flaws would damage the legitimacy of secession.

A new framework agreement between the two parties—a CPA II—would need to include provisions for post-referenda arrangements as well as for

32

the conduct of the referenda themselves. It should first reaffirm the parties’ commitment to the terms of the original CPA, then lay out agreed arrangements in the event of South Sudan’s secession on citizenship rights, oil, wealthsharing and security.

A new agreement could establish some reciprocal rights of citizenship—for southerners in the North and northerners in the South—permitting freedom of movement, work, residence and ownership of property (similar to the Four Freedoms agreement between Sudan and Egypt). It could specify a revenue-sharing formula, based on the northern government’s ownership of the pipeline and other oil infrastructure, and southern Sudan’s territorial control of oil fields South of the 1956 border.

It might require that Abyei be demilitarised in the event of the referendum there being postponed as well as continued monitoring by the UN and AU. The agreement should specify a date for a postponed Abyei referendum—possibly April 2011.

There has also been widespread opposition among governments in the Arab world.

Even if the referenda take place on time, technical deficiencies in the implementation could still allow the NCP and other interests opposed to the potential independence of southern Sudan to reject the results. A disputed result would hold serious risks in terms of a potential return to North–South military confrontation.

The report further argues that expansion of international support to the process is indispensable.

More resources will be required in

December-January 2011

The problems in Abyei are even greater than those facing the referendum in the South.

logistics, security arrangements, voter education, training of polling staff, general financial support and, most importantly, in diplomatic pressure and resolution of disputes between the parties. In terms of the conduct of the referenda, donor funds have been pledged, but only a fraction of the SSRC’s US$372 million budget is yet available. Neither the Government of National Unity (GoNU) nor the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) has contributed more than token amounts (though the latter has pledged them).

According to the SSRA the referendum in southern Sudan is required to meet three legal conditions: It must be held in an environment favourable to conducting the referendum; all voters must enjoy the exercise of their right to express freely their opinion in a secret referendum on self-determination; and it must achieve a turnout of 60% of the total registered population.

When it comes to the vote, the Act says, the choice that receives 50 per cent + 1 “shall supersede any other legislation and shall be binding to all the State bodies as well as all citizens of southern and northern Sudan.”

Of the three conditions in the Referendum Act, only the turnout is quantifiable. If 60% turnout is not reached, a repeat referendum within 60 days of the declaration of the final results is required (no later than 15 April, 2011).The turnout threshold does not require that all votes cast be valid. The figure is to be judged against the number of registered voters. This makes the registration process as important as the polling itself

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FIRST WORLD VIEW

Of Diplomacy, Dialogue and Development The out-going Head of EU Delegation in Kenya,

ERIC VAN DER LINDEN, spoke to DEAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S JANE MWANGI

in a wide-ranging conversation on his term, EU projects, piracy, relaxing getaways and the new Constitution. Excerpts of the interview:

D

IPLOMAT EAST AFRICA: How would you describe your tour of duty in Kenya at (a) a personal level and (b) a diplomatic level?

Will you miss Kenya? What will you miss most?

VAN DER LINDEN: I have been a very happy man during my term here which, unfortunately, comes to a close at the end of December. My stay here has been very fruitful, never having known a dull moment during this time and, interestingly, I came here two months before the 2005 referendum and am leaving slightly over two months after

34

December-January 2011

•DNA

Diplomacy•News•Analysis

the promulgation of the new Constitution. I must be one of the few Heads of EU Delegation to have stayed for more than the required five years. As the Head of the EU Delegation, what I found particularly satisfying is how well all the 19 EU member states form one great team working together on the same issues and in the same direction. I have learnt a lot. When you come from the so-called Developed World, you shouldn’t come with pre-cooked ideas but rather with an open mind.

I will certainly miss Kenya, whose diversity is rich and endearing. I will miss my many trips over the weekend to my favourite spots in Lake Naivasha, Mt Longonot and relaxing on the Coast of Mombasa.

There is no reason why I shouldn’t continue coming here in the future.

I will certainly come back from time to time, but discreetly. I think Kenya is a beautiful spot on earth, a small pearl on the African continent that reaches out to you.

Q: Kindly take us through some of the projects in which the EU has been involved in Kenya over the last five years, including those you found in place and those that were started during your term?

Do these include health, agriculture and energy, which are three crucial sectors?

A: The project areas of intervention are agricultural and rural development, where we have the agricultural sector support programme aimed at reducing poverty in Kenya by revitalising the agricultural sector to achieve the Vision 2030 goals. In Kenya’s arid and semi-arid development project, we work to generate and validate agricultural knowledge and technologies appropriate for arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) and thereby contribute to the Govern-

ment’s goal of long-term sustainable development and reduced dependence on famine relief, which is valued at €7,900,000.

We have been strengthening the Ministry of Local Government and have been involved in road projects — with the most recent one along the Mombasa-Malaba northern corridor from the Port to the Ugandan border. We have been instrumental in helping the Highway authorities to set up road agencies.

As the EU, we recognise the strong link between economic and political reforms. As a major source of development assistance to Kenya, the EU has been supportive of reform and poverty reduction policies, contributing to initiatives in the field of good governance, democratisation and human rights, as well as to economic and public sector reform.

The EU conducts political dialogue with Kenya in accordance with the Cotonou Agreement. The objective of the dialogue is to exchange information, to foster mutual understanding and to facilitate the establishment of agreed priorities and shared agendas. It encompasses a regular assessment of the developments concerning the respect for human rights, democratic principles, the rule of law and good governance, and it is conducted in a flexible manner.

The current EU Country Strategy Paper (CSP) for Kenya and Vision 2030 establishes Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD) as one of the priority sector areas, crucial in creating employment and reducing poverty in the country. Further, ARD emerges as being vital in achieving MDG One, which focuses on addressing the issue of poverty and hunger. We seek to create an enabling environment for agriculture development by promoting conservation of the environment and natural resources and formulating

December - January 2011

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•DNA

Diplomacy•News•Analysis

a food security policy and implementation programmes. Within the CSP €98.8 million have been set aside for this sector. Sanitation The EU believes that dialogue with the Government of Kenya and key stakeholders, undertaken in an open and constructive spirit, will contribute to better mutual understanding and the establishment of agreed priorities and shared agendas. This will serve to further strengthen the partnership between the EU and Kenya and enable the EU to play its role in supporting change and development in Kenya more effectively.

Health Project (KWASEH) Q: What has impressed and, or failed to impress you most about the way Kenyans have welcomed, embraced and executed these projects? Is there a particular project you would like to talk about?

A: From the Coast to Western to Maasailand, the enthusiasm of the people is great. The Kenyan people have always been very enthusiastic. There has been goodwill among the political class as well.

Our own procedures have always been very complex and demanding. I believe that civil society is extremely important and it is regrettable that there are no strong umbrella organisations among civil society in Kenya that would facilitate more support from the EU. On the second part of your question, one project that is close to my heart is Loyangalani on the South-Eastern shore of Lake Turkana, whereby various communities, that is Rendille, Turkana, El Molo, co-exist. Their health has been affected by the water in Lake Turkana, which has led to hair discolouration and other health problems. We are spearheading a water project to reverse the adverse effects that these communities have had to contend with over

36

est donor of humanitarian aid in the world. The current EU budget is €100 million.

Worth noting is the fact that Kenya is a darling of the donor community because of her strategic position on the continent. Your influence goes as far as the Great Lakes.

the years. This is among our very many achievements in the country.

Q: Nairobi is proud of Vision 2030, the Government’s blueprint for transforming Kenya into a middleincome country, but this plan is very dependent on donor funding. What are your views on the Vision as regards ambition and achievement?

A: I think that Vision 2030 is one of the major targets set by President Kibaki’s Government.

It is, however, very ambitious and challenging, but, given the country’s potential, Kenya can be transformed into a middleincome country with the requisite hard work and planning. As regards donor funding, Kenya is less dependent on donor funding compared to neighbouring countries. We are a key donor for Kenya and the EU is, of course, the larg-

December-January 2011

ENGROSSED: Head of EU Delegation in Kenya Eric Van Der Linden reads a copy of DEA

Q: Piracy in the Indian Ocean is as of major concern to the European Union as it is to Kenya and Tanzania. How are EU and Nairobi and Dar co-operating in tackling this challenge and with what results? Is Kenya’s recent move not to have suspected Somali pirates tried in its courts a blow to this cooperation?

A: We all applaud the fact that Kenya was the first to enter into an MoU on Somalia; this was indeed a bold step. The Kenyan Government has always assured us of its commitment to cooperate with us in the fight against piracy; this was reaffirmed during the visit of the European Union High Representative Catherine Ashton to Kenya in May 2010. We look forward to continued cooperation and reiterate our willingness to engage in consultations to overcome the difficulties Kenya might face in the prosecution of piracy suspects.

We have also very recently gotten assurance from President Kibaki that the cooperation will continue.

Together with other donors like UNODC, we have strengthened the financing of the prosecution process. We have also improved the state of Shimo la Tewa Prison.

Having other players in the region come on board — not only Tanzania — will boost our efforts and I personally ask for no less than to sit down and discuss this issue.

Q: Kenya has a new Constitution.

Kenya’s bilateral donors and international friends were keen to see this new dispensation. What

•DNA

Diplomacy•News•Analysis

do you reckon would be the test that now faces the country as it implements the new law?

A: There’s a new atmosphere that has been created as a result of the promulgation of the new Constitution. After the 2007 elections, the eminent personalities led by Kofi Annan did a tremendous job.

The relevant commissions needed to be set up because it is very important to get things together before the 2012 elections. I feel that more needs to be done, especially when it comes to the welfare of the common mwananchi. All the actors ought to ensure that when an investor comes here, he/she has a one-stop shop.

Q: You have heard it said, when EU has commented on local issues, the fight for a new Constitution, and fighting corruption included, that diplomats must not interfere in Kenya’s internal affairs. Yet others, diplomats included, say envoys are perfectly in order to offer advice to their hosts — your view, Sir. A: The relationship between the EU and Kenya is one founded on mutual respect and partnership, and hence as partners you can offer each other advice. Furthermore, under the Cotonou Agreement, this provides for regular political dialogue covering all areas of mutual concern within the scope of the Agreement. It also encompasses regular assessment of developments concerning good governance, respect for human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law, all of which are key elements of the Agreement. We have a longer history together and there are those who erroneously thought that we were interfering while others told us to fight harder.

Q: Is Nairobi, or the region, quick to seize business opportunities

VAST POTENTIAL: Eric Van Der Linden explains a point during the interview

on offer from EU or EU member states or is it still steeped in endless red tape?

A: A lot can be done here with a little less red tape. There is need to have a more transparent judiciary and reforms in all sectors as this will make it easier to have more investor confidence. A pilot friend of mine once told me that when flying from Cape to Cairo,

the only lights visible in the vicinity are those around Nairobi across all the countries in Africa. This in itself speaks volumes about the country’s vast potential. The Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) that Kenya is attracting is paltry compared to its potential. More needs to be done in all the relevant sectors; if all this is done then the country has a golden future

BIO DATA Eric Van der Linden was born in 1948. Prior to his current position as Head of EU Delegation to Kenya, he was also Head of EC Delegation/Representation in Slovakia in 2002-2005, where he was credited for transformation of Delegation into Representation.

From 2000-2002 he served as Head of EC Delegation in Slovenia. He has served as Director General (Enlargement) and Head of Unit/Team Leader in Turkey, where he was instrumental in implementing financial cooperation and following political, economic and acquis-related progress. He also served as Director General in Malta, Cyprus and Turkey, where he was charged with the implementation of co-operation pro-

grammes with all three countries; follow-up of Customs Union EC/Turkey; and, in particular for Turkey and Cyprus, political briefings and co-ordination with member states. He worked in EC (European Commission) Delegations in Jordan and Israel in 1979.

Prior to joining the European Commission, he worked as Assistant/Researcher at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Transport Economics). Van der Linden has a degree in Econometrics, Statistical Analysis, Operations Research and another one in Economics. He speaks excellent Dutch, French, English and German and also basic Italian, Slovak and Arabic

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GIANT STEP FORWARD

Ocampo’s Move

I

ICC Prosecutor plays 2012 game changer in Kenya, argues LEVI KIAMA

t was Kofi Annan, then the outgoing Secretary General of the United Nations, who welcomed the creation of history’s and the world’s first permanent International Criminal Court (ICC) as, “a gift of hope to future generations and a giant step forward towards universal human rights and the rule of law”.

That was 11 years ago. Nowadays, Mr Annan’s day job is Mediator of the Kenyan national reconciliation process, which began in the wake of the post-election violence (PEV) following the disputed General Election of 2007.

When the ICC’s founding Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo announced the list of six principal suspects whom he reckons “bear the greatest responsibility” for the PEV’s depredations, he truly took a giant step forward in the direction of the rule of law in Kenya and the region generally.

Kenya has had a very bad press indeed in recent years over the issue of high-level impunity, with the police, judiciary and prisons services coming in for especially austere criticism. It is grimly pointed out that Kenya has no man or man of material substance who is held long in prison, there are no malpractice doctors, lawyers, engineers or other professionals behind bars, creating the completely false impression that Kenya’s practitioners are flawless and among the world’s best.

Nonetheless Ocampo’s move has been received with mixed reactions, even among poor working class Kenyans.

Among the “Ocampo Six” are two putative presidential candidates who command an immense

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following in their ethnic vote bloc areas, the top civil servant and a Cabinet minister (see pen portraits accompanying this story).

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Uhuru Kenyatta and former Higher Education Minister William Ruto hail from Central Kenya and the Rift Valley respectively. These are the two regions that have provided the nation with its first three national chief executive officers — Presidents Jomo Kenya (1964-78); Daniel arap Moi (1978-2002) and Mwai Kibaki (2002-2012).

Being fingered by Ocampo for hearings scheduled to begin in May 2011 effectively means that the strongest Kikuyu and Kalenjin candidates in the race for the Kibaki succession in 2012 at the 11th General Election will not be in the running. As far as Kenyans are concerned, this changes everything.

INFLUENCE

Even in the event of their absence in faraway Europe (the ICC’s pre-trial chamber’s judges have yet to grant Ocampo warrants), Uhuru and Ruto, particularly the latter, will continue to wield enormous influence with their ethnic vote blocs.

Political analysts are already hearing murmurs that their combined sympathy vote could propel a third candidate, obviously of their choosing, to the post-Kibaki State House.

Also on the cards is the damage both suspects could inflict on Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s chances of succeeding his co-Principal in the Grand Coalition regime, President Kibaki. Odinga is arch-rival to both younger men and played a pivotal role at the Ninth General Election

December-January 2011

Even in the event of their absence in faraway Europe (the ICC’s pre-trial chamber’s judges have yet to grant Ocampo warrants), Uhuru

and Ruto, particularly

the latter, will

continue to wield enormous influence with their ethnic vote blocs

in 2002 in shutting Uhuru out of the house he grew up in — State House.

Uhuru returned the backhanded compliment of seeing Odinga play spoiler to his 2002 presidential bid by joining hands with Kibaki in the disputed 2007 presidential poll that resulted in the murder and mayhem of the PEV. The PM is widely perceived as the man to beat in 2012 and Uhuru and Ruto want major input into that.

Wittingly or unwittingly, Ocampo’s move in naming the Six even before they are actually accused is easily a game changer in the matter of the next General Election.

Kenya has been led at the top by only three men for almost half-acentury. The country has also held 10 general elections across those five decades, and held them on time too. That is except for the General Election scheduled for 1968 but held the following year amid the Tom Mboya assassination crisis and the 1984 poll, held a year early in 1983 in the face of the crisis detonated by the Charles Njonjo “msaliti (traitor)” affair.

CHAOS

With the restoration of multiparty politics in November 1991 after a 25-year one-party hiatus, Kenyans also rediscovered political violence, with the result that, beginning with the 1992 General Election, clashes aimed at an ethnic cleansing agenda accompanied and even preceded campaigning. The 2007 poll was the first one to register post-election chaos and saw the worst violence, evictions and economic disruption.

Although there were many ominous portents that something was

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fundamentally amiss ahead of the 10th General Election, the PEV eruption nonetheless stunned Kenyans, their well-wishers and assorted observers. The country and the nation convulsed, with 1,300 dead and 650,000 displaced and reduced to internal exile in little more than a fortnight.

Kenya is the region’s economic and communications hub, and the landlockedneighbourhoodofUganda, Rwanda and Burundi promptly felt the pinch of the massive infrastructural damage wrought by riotous mobs who sliced highways in half and uprooted entire sections of the Kenya-Uganda railway.

President Paul Kagame of Rwanda was so shocked he issued a statement urging the Kenya Armed Forces to intervene in the civilian chaos.

REBOUND

Five decades earlier Kenya had descended into the chaos of the Mau Mau State of Emergency, the War of Independence. The only country in Africa besides Algeria to have mounted a freedom struggle in the 1950s aimed at grabbing its nationhood through a War of Independence, Kenya has been described as an oasis of peace for the past five decades and eminently deservedly so. Indeed, so resilient has Kenya been that on the two occasions it tripped and stared anarchy in the face — the August 1, 1982 coup attempt by disgruntled elements of the Air Force and the December 2007-January 2008 postelection violence — it did not fall and instead rebounded as a much stronger and even more indivisible entity each time.

It is often forgotten by the younger generations that when Kenya finally achieved Independence on December 12, 1963, the country that had just become a nation was emerging from a decade of civil war and then only barely 8 million Kenyans had suffered a huge national

trauma and pathology. The then hastily departing British colonial authorities admitted to a conservative number of slightly over 15,000 dead, more than 80,000 political prisoners and a million displaced and relocated to Emergency villages. The truth about these figures may never be known, for the colonists destroyed thousands of pages of confidential and secret files as they fled Kenya, the only such episode in the British Empire’s 300-year history. There were no prosecutions.

The PEV was swifter than the Mau Mau war, killing more people and displacing more people faster than was imaginable under the boot of British colonialism.

Kenyan victims of the PEV, of whom 37,000 are still internally displaced persons (IDPs), may view Ocampo’s move as “a gift of hope” in Annan’s words but the political class is not in such gift receiving mode or mood just now. The Cabinet held an extraordinary session on Monday December 13, a public holiday, and sent out seriously mixed signals, with much talk of a local tribunal replacing The Hague process (see separate story).

News of the Cabinet session was received with mirth, even derision and many Kenyans clearly thought it was redundant to the point of being preposterous. Many other perspicacious observers are increasingly of the view that the best way for Kenya to go is the Rwanda postgenocide format of ICC hearings accompanied by a local tribunal, preferably at the readymade UN facilities at Arusha housing the Special Tribunal for Rwanda and the Rwandese communal and neighbourhood gacaca courts.

By the time we went to press, the African Union (which is vociferously opposed to the ICC warrant on South) and the East African Community had yet to issue comment

Uhuru KenyattaUhuru Muigai Kenyatta, 49, enjoys a political pedigree and occupies a place in his country’s politics that is the nearest Kenya comes to royalty.

A son of Founding Father Jomo Kenyatta and his fourth and last wife, Kenya’s first First Lady, Mama Ngina Muhoho Kenyatta, Uhuru is Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance.

Jomo was a multiple pioneer in many fields — Kenya’s first African journalist, first to author books in English, among the very first to take a Caucasian bride, the first to go to the Soviet Union, the first Prime Minister and the first President. Jomo’s likeness was the first Kenyan African visage to appear on the national currency.

As for Uhuru, he holds a powerful combination of designations. In the United Kingdom, the Prime Minister is also designated the First Lord of the Treasury. In Kenya, the son of the Founding Father, the first black face Kenyans ever saw on money, is both a prime minister and ministerial “lord” of the Treasury.

Uhuru’s most diehard supporters, particularly in the southern Kikuyu heartland of Kiambu, have little doubt that he will one day lead Kenya. However, being fingered

by ICC Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo as a principal suspect in the post-election election violence could complicate matters somewhat for the junior Jomo in the foreseeable future. Mzee Kenyatta was among the crop of nationalist leaders whom political analysts of the 1950s used to call PG (for Prison Graduate). They included Ghana’s Kwame Nkrumah and Guinea’s Ahmed Sékou Touré. Jomo was arrested by the British in 1952. Compared to Mzee, Uhuru has lived a life of ease, in the very lap of wealth and luxury. When former president Moi finally called it a day, he chose Uhuru as his preferred successor. The young man declared his wealth as being in the region of KSh750 million, which many took with a chunk of salt, reckoning him to be much wealthier by far.

Ocampo calls Uhuru the focal point between the outlawed sect Mungiki and the Party of National Unity (PNU).

In as far as the young man is looked at from the prism of the life and times of his father, is history repeating itself and if so, to what extent? Only time will tell

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Major General Mohammed Hussein Ali Major General Mohammed Hussein Ali is the Chief Executive of the Postal Corporation of Kenya. The career soldier, who was born in 1956 in Eldoret, Kenya, was appointed to the post by President Mwai Kibaki on September 8, 2009, from the Police Service, where he served as the Commisioner of Police, beginning in 2004.

In his early days, he attended Uasin Gishu School before joining Kolanya Boys’ High School in Busia District. At some point, he dropped from high school after his father’s death before joining the Army in 1977. During his long military career, he served as a military attaché in Zimbabwe and Uganda, and later as the commanding officer of the Western Brigade of the Kenya Army Paratrooper Battalion, and also the Air Cavalry Regiment in Embakasi.

He was moved to the Police Service as commissioner in mid- 2004 from the Army, where he was a brigadier, to initiate longneeded reforms aimed at changing the image of an institution widely regarded as highly indisciplined, corrupt and abusive to human rights. It was expected that he would invoke military discipline and training to streamline the institution whose image was badly tattered.

It is within the period that he served as police boss that the infamous post 2007 electionviolence rocked the country. Police and paramilitaries (the GSU and AP) were called in to help bring the situation under control and in the process were accused of using excessive force against un-armed demonstrators that led to hundreds of deaths directly linked to police shootings or beatings.

His tenure as Police Commissioner was characterised by some measure of resentment by his charges, who viewed him as an “outsider” having been headhunted from the military at the expense of career officers in the police force who could easily have been promoted to head the force

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December-January 2011

Henry Kiprono Kosgey Henry Kiprono Kosgey, 63, is the longest serving MP for Tinderet. Kosgey was first elected to Parliament in 1979 and represented Tinderet until 2007, except for a brief stint out in the cold in the ’80s.

The chairman of the Orange Democratic Movement, Kosgey is an extremely wealthy and experienced politician, having sharpened his political skills during his heyday as a Kanu stalwart.

A long-serving minister in the Kanu regime until the Independence party was routed from power in 2002, Kosgey regained the national limelight when he joined the Orange opposition to the draft constitution in 2005.

In 2002, when Raila Odinga led a mass walkout from Kanu to express displeasure with the nomination of Uhuru Kenyatta as the party’s presidential candidate, Kosgey was among those picked to replace the decamping officials.

Born in 1947, Kosgey was originally trained as a chemist and he holds a Bachelor’s degree in Science from the University of Nairobi.

A key ally of Prime Minister Odinga, he is among a few Kalenjin MPs who have defied association with the rebel ODM group led by Eldoret North MP William Ruto.

Kosgey, who was appointed Industrialisation minister when the Coalition Government was formed in 2008, is no stranger to controversy.

Also cited were some reports linking him to the post-election violence, an apparent reference to a 2008 report by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights.

He served in the docket charged with Sports in 1987 when Kenya hosted the All Africa Games, preparations were dogged by controversy, especially over financial impropriety

Francis Muthaura Francis Muthaura, 64, is said to be the power behind President Kibaki’s presidency.

As the Head of Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet, he wields immense power in the Kibaki administration and is easily among the crème-de-la-creme.

He has served in this capacity since 2005, when Narc swept to power to end Kanu’s four-decade reign. As the Secretary to the Cabinet, Muthaura is responsible for drafting the Council of Ministers’ agenda.

He is also tasked with following up the implementation of Cabinet resolutions in his role as the chairman of the permanent secretaries committee.

His name was often mentioned among a close circle of Kibaki confidants, the so-called Mount Kenya Mafia (now rebaptised by the US embassy and its State Department overlords as The Black Box), who, though informal, held sway in matters government, particularly during the first term in office. Since his appointment as Secretary to the Cabinet he has regularly locked horns with the opposition for his perceived hard-line positions.

When the Coalition Government was formed in 2008, the ODM wing unsuccessfully tried to have Muthaura removed from the plum post, terming his position unconstitutional.

In July last year Muthaura was hospitalised in South Africa due to heart complications, fuelling speculation he would retire. But the soft-spoken grey-haired career civil servant bounced back intoi office.

Born in October 1946, Muthaura holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Economics and Political Science and a Diploma in International Relations from the University of Nairobi

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Joshua arap

William Ruto

Sang

not stand out!

Among the six names released by Ocampo, Joshua arap Sang’s stands out in the way it does

The least prominent, he is a presenter and editor at KASS FM, a Vernacular radio station that broadcasts in Kalenjin language. The radio enjoys a wide audience in the Rift Valley Region of Kenya, one of the areas worst hit by the post-election-violence in 2007.

Owing to its vernacular reach, it does not enjoy wide listenership out of Rift Valley.

During an earlier interview, however, Sang said that the radio is heard all over the world via the internet.

According to the station’s website, he is also Head of Radio and presents a breakfast show called Lene Emet (meaning, ‘what is the world saying?’

The station is not new to controversy.

During the run-up to the 2005 referendum on the draft constitution that was eventually rejected, the station was pulled off-air at one time by the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) for allegedly engaging in incitement and propagating hate speech.

Sang was accused of airing programmes before and during the 2007 elections which may have led to incitement.

At some point, he was alleged to have openly mobilised people for attacks on air. The youthful presenter was educated at Kitale Academy secondary school where he left in 1993 and joined Kenya Institute of Mass Communications. He previously worked for Biblia Husema Studio and Sayare RTVN before joining Kass FM in 2005.

The accusations against him touch on murder, deportation or forcible transfer of population, torture and persecution

If there was one individual who had left no doubt that he was on Luis MorenoOcampo’s list even before the International Criminal Court prosecutor made the names public, it was William Samoei Ruto.

The Eldoret North MP had made it his preoccupation to rubbish the ICC process claiming it was biased and designed to settle political scores. Ruto even made a much-publicised trip to The Hague in November to “set the record straight”. Upon his return, he launched a vicious attack on the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, which named him in its report on post election violence published in 2008.

Ruto sensationally accused Commissioner Hassan Omar Hassan of bribing and coaching witnesses to implicate him in the violence. He claims the ICC intervention is designed to curtail his presidential ambitions since he never organised or facilitated the violence.

Ruto, 44, may very well be the most harangued politician at the moment. He is facing a fraud charge in court over which he was suspended as Higher Education minister.

Ruto prides himself as a self-made politician, citing his rise from a humble background to a political kingpin. He headed the wave of opposition during the August 27 constitutional referendum vote, which although the ‘No’ camp lost, raised his political profile.

Born on December 21, 1966, at Kamagut in Uasin Gishu District, Ruto made his foray into politics as a member of the Youth for Kanu ‘92 (YK ‘92), a campaign lobby group

formed to help the then ruling party ward off the opposition.

Ruto wrote his ‘O’ level examinations in 1984 at Eldoret’s Wareng Secondary School. He was admitted to Kapabet Boys High School for his Advanced Level in 1985-86.Thereafter he joined the University of Nairobi in 1987.

At University, Ruto, a staunch African Inland Church (AIC) member, was elected the leader of the University Christian Union choir. On leaving college Ruto was hired as a temporary teacher at first at Sirgoi secondary school and later at Kamagut secondary, both in the North Rift.

He however quit teaching to venture into business before eventually plunging into politics as a founder member of the YK ’92.

Ruto won the Eldoret North parliamentary seat in the 1997 General Election. He was Kanu’s Organizing Secretary before he was appointed an Assistant Minister in the Office of the President. He is said to be the only assistant minister ever allowed to attend cabinet meetings.

Later he was promoted to become Minister for Home Affairs, about five months before Kanu was removed from power in 2002.

Ruto had been instrumental in campaigning for Uhuru Kenyatta, the Kanu presidential candidate who was trounced by Mwai Kibaki of Narc.

He joined ODM after the 2005 referendum when he together with Uhuru, the Kanu Chairman, and Raila, the ODM leader, successfully joined forces to oppose the draft Constitution.

In the run up to the 2007 elections, Ruto unsuccessfully vied for ODM’s presidential ticket. But he teamed up with the eventual winner, Raila, who faced-off with President Kibaki in the disputed December 27 presidential vote that led to the violence.

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The Announcement that Ruffled a Nation’s Feathers

By KWENDO OPANGA

I

t was a Monday and it was a public holiday. Therefore it was a strange day on which to hold a Cabinet meeting.

Kenya’s Cabinet meets on Thursdays, unless, of course, there is an urgent matter of national importance or crisis to be discussed.

And so there must have been a crisis that forced President Kibaki to summon ministers to State House, Nairobi. The crisis was not something that was happening in Kenya, but an impending declaration at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.

ICC Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo was to announce the names of the six people believed to have masterminded what has come to be known as the postelection violence (PEV). It is the repercussions of that announcement that alarmed the government into action.

After the meeting was dismissed the Presidential Press Service put out a statement which said that the Cabinet had resolved to set up a local tribunal to try individuals accused of causing the PEV, apparently triggered by the declaration of Kibaki as the winner of the presidential poll.

Now that was strange and ultimately futile. The announcement was being made with just two days to go to Ocampo’s announcement, as if that would serve to pre-empt what was going on at the ICC. It was also strange because the President, Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Cabinet had failed to convince Parliament in March and

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December-January 2011

June to set up local process to try the suspects.

Secondly, Kibaki, Raila and Cabinet had twice failed to meet the two deadlines for the establishment of the local tribunals. The first was recommended by the Justice Phillip Waki-led commission that investigated the PEV. The second was the extension of the time during which the government could form a tribunal following an appeal in February to former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan by the government.

Annan had negotiated the talks that led to the formation of the current coalition government in February 2008.

ALACRITY

The sudden urgency by the Cabinet was therefore remarkable, especially because its decision to form the tribunal could not stop The Hague process for the simple reason that Cabinet could not use reason to convince unreasoning MPs to put in place a local process.

Second, it was indeed remarkable that the Cabinet appeared to be acting with alacrity when it knew very well that in June Parliament again refused to pass a Bill fronted

by Justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo to form a local tribunal.

Were Kibaki, Raila and Cabinet going to convince MPs this time round to pass bills calling for the establishment of a local tribunal to try PEV violence suspects where they had failed three times previously?

Had MPs changed their minds when they shot down those bills

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and for the better part of the year they had adamantly and defiantly adopted the don’t-be-vague-sayHague mantra in response to demands for a local tribunal?

Don’t be vague; say Hague, is an old pithy advert for a whisky which caught the imagination of MPs in tandem with those who have no confidence in Kenya’s judicial system to deliver justice for the varied victims of the PEV. Opinion polls have repeatedly showed that most Kenyans believe it is The Hague that offers the best hope for justice for the victims and this has also tended to show that the people and their MPs are in agreement.

So, was the Cabinet acting on new information the rest of the country did not have? It is highly unlikely there was new information, but what is evident is that there was a change of heart among MPs, including those who had been intoxicated by the don’t-be-vaguesay-Hague mantra.

FRANTIC

But why the change of heart? It would appear that some MPs began to change their positions when it started to become crystal clear that Ocampo was indeed serious about instituting proceedings against key political figures which would spell doom for a number of high-profile personalities.

That was about three months ago, when word swept the Kenyan political arena that Ocampo had written to several Kenyans asking them to account for their roles in the PEV. When suspended Higher Education minister William Ruto travelled to The Hague in November to ‘‘put the record straight’’, it was confirmed senior people in government were treading hot water.

It was at this time that raw politics kicked in. Ruto on his return from the ICC made frantic efforts to discredit the evidence that Ocampo may have against him by attacking those who may have gathered it.

In his sights since has been the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNHCR) and particularly its former vice-chairman Hassan Omar Hassan. His line of attack has been that Hassan coached and bribed witnesses to testify against him.

The upshot of Ruto’s attack on the KNHCR is that the organisation and Hassan are fixing him at the behest of his political enemies. In other words, the ICC process is no longer legal but political and Ocampo and ICC are now players on Kenya’s road to the 2012 presidential election.

Naivasha MP John Mututho advanced the view that the ICC process was being used to weed out Ruto and Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, two players who could well be President and Deputy President in 2012.

Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka weighed in on this line of argument at a church function in December, where he and Ruto were guests. Even before Ruto had officially been named by Ocampo, the VP said the Eldoret North MP was being tormented by those who want him out of the 2012 presidential race.

The VP was immediately accused of engaging in hate speech and the National Integration and Cohesion Commission (NCIC) asked to investigate his inflammatory utterances. This is another way of saying he was being accused of uttering sentiments that could set Kenyans against each other.

It may be the fact that tensions could rise between Kenyan communities at the instigation of — or in sympathy with — those of their number summoned by Ocampo that forced Cabinet’s hand.

The intelligence available indicated to Cabinet that politicians were mobilising people to take to the streets to demonstrate against Ocampo immediately he made public his suspects. Notice that Ocampo has on several occasions

But why the change of heart? It would appear that some MPs began to change their positions when it started to become

crystal clear

that Ocampo was indeed

serious about instituting proceedings against key political figures

told Kenyans that ICC suspects are not representatives of the communities from which they hail.

Ocampo said on his last visit to Nairobi that his role is not to apportion responsibility for the violence of late 2007 and early 2008, he is after those who perpetrated murder, rape and the displacement of innocents.

This points to criminal charges, but which have arisen from political events in which politicians were involved. Further, politicians know their survival in 2012 is dependent on how Ocampo’s hand works from now on.

MPs who have accused Ocampo of politicising the ICC process have not produced the evidence to back their claim that the prosecutor is indeed after Uhuru and Ruto at the behest of Raila.

But it is just possible that their politicisation of Ocampo’s interest in Uhuru and Ruto may have informed Cabinet’s futile announcement of formation of a local tribunal to try suspected perpetrators of post-election violence

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SYNERGIES

East Africa Rising: Year of Living Symbiotically

T

Buoyant optimism marks advent of regional integration as testy polls put democracy on the scales along the hilly journey to political federation

By MBOYA CLIFF OCHIENG’

he year 2010 was expected to be high octane and lively, and it lived up to its billing. It has, indeed, been an eventful year full of drama, glamour, despair and some instances of hope as the East African Community sought to consolidate itself.

Significantly, there were milestone achievements regarding the Union that juxtaposed sociopolitical agenda to set forth the integration calendar — precisely the EAC Common Market and Customs Union came to the fore, with slow but firm gains by individual nations, no doubt a remarkable commitment from all five partner states.

The region has seen tremendous improvements in governance, economic progress and food security. Nevertheless, that is not to say that all is well in the region. This progress is not permanent and lack of strong institutions poses serious challenges to maintain the gains made. The IGAD Executive Secretary, Eng Mahboub M.Maalim, avers that the main agenda in 2011 for the region will be regional integration, institutional strengthening and implementation of the peace and security strategy.

Politically, elections have not disappointed, trivia inclusive. Each country has had its fair share of intrigue, occasionally degenerat-

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implemented fully and observers will be keen to watch these developments, what with 2012 being another election year. There’s need to have the new institutions running to safeguard the “New Kenya” from succession games involving politicians’ narrow, partisan and ethnic prisms.

ing into political debauch and even chicanery. Kenya reaffirmed its position among the most democratic states in the region by holding a peaceful national referendum to enact a new constitutional dispensation as part of its internationally mediated reform agenda. The document has been referred to as progressive, though ‘not-so-East African’ and inclines sound structures to not only tackle current challenges but also ensure the nation is well placed to achieve Vision 2030, the development blueprint seeking to make Kenya a Middle-Income Country. President Kibaki has already laid a legacy as the man who delivered the Kenya people well on the way to the Promised Land, but his main task in the next few months will be to ensure that the constitution is

December-January 2011

Tanzania saw the re-election of President Jakaya Kikwete to serve a second and final term in office in the fiercest elections in recent times, with the incumbent and his Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party seeing diminished popularity. With only 60 per cent approval, CCM has a huge task to reaffirm itself as the people’s party. Kikwete has a daunting task to midwife the present and future of the union. Critical to the union and recognition of its respect for racial issues, was the election of the first albino MP. TANZANIA

Kikwete has asked Tanzanians not to create more room for divisions, emphasising that they should cherish and maintain the peace they are known for. He dismissed claims of vote rigging by the opposition and pledged reforms to make future elections more credible. The allegedly sleepy island of Zanzibar was not left out. First was the approval of a constitution through a referendum that enshrined a power-sharing arrange-

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ment between the winner and the first runner-up: This was seen as a compromise for reducing the tensions emanating from the winnertake-all polls. Secondly, there was an election in which the incumbent president was leaving office.

The elections not only gave him an opportunity to stamp his legacy by ensuring his party wins the elections but were also an opportunity for the opposition to test its political clout.

RWANDA

Rwanda’s Paul Kagame was reelected almost unopposed with 93% of the vote, making him the most ‘popular’ Commonwealth leader in the region. Opposition candidates cried foul as many were unable to challenge him. His main challenger, Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, was unable to contest due to a pending court case against her and house arrest. Those who did performed dismally.

Kagame has been lauded as a transformative leader in the region, entrenching stability and economic progress in Rwanda but in the absence of broad political participation and inclusion.

There are going to be increased opposition voices in Rwanda as an extension of the momentum gained during the electioneering period and it will be fascinating to see how war-hardened Kagame, a brilliant tactician, deals with the opposition.

elections held earlier, has often said it will not recognise his leadership, dealing a blow to democratic progress. It is feared that the spiralling political dissent and increased political intolerance will soon trigger a crisis.

nial issues of corruption, poverty and inequality are dominating the campaigns and likely to tilt the result.

CUSTOMS

SUDAN

Sudan is grappling with the challenges of pre- and post-referendum early next year and both the regional and international communities are working overtime to ensure the plebiscite takes place on time. This is the last and most significant part of fulfilling the CPA signed in 2005. A peaceful outcome, and one that is acceptable by Juba and Khartoum, is largely anticipated to translate into lasting peace in the region.

It is widely expected that the southerners will opt to secede and no tangible agreement has yet been reached by the CPA partners on the nature of relationships between North and South in case of a secession vote. Contentious issues include citizenship, residency of southerners in the North, boundary demarcation and voting eligibility. Observers are keen to see how the South emerges from this tension-filled impasse.

If southern Sudan secedes, Kenya, which played a key role in the establishment of the CPA, is likely to convince the new independent African state to the join the East African Community.

BURUNDI

UGANDA

Rivalling Kagame in a rather unorthodox, even bizarre, manner was Burundi’s President Pierre Nkurunziza, re-elected in a onecandidate race which was, understandably, heavily disputed. The opposition, who boycotted the polls in protest against municipal

In Uganda, politicians are already traversing the country, trumpeting their political agenda as the February 2011 general elections loom ever larger. President Yoweri Museveni is seeking a fourth term in an election that has attracted eight other contenders. Peren-

Rwanda’s Paul Kagame was

re-elected almost unopposed with 93% of the vote,

making him the most ‘popular’ Commonwealth leader in the region

Development in the region will not only be determined by political stability but also economic policies, Infrastructure development with a niche in sound institutions will guarantee the gains made to be sustainable.

Whereas 2010 saw the increase in economic activities in the region, nations are expected to engage in discussions and how to best take advantage of the new markets and economic opportunities being offered in the process of integration.

For instance, economic cooperation, especially with the Customs Union, will offer countries with economic diversification opportunities to guard their economies against regular shocks that might slow down development.

REGION The EAC is currently working on cooperating in infrastructure development, especially in the road network linking the region. common trade policies are also on the agenda. The heterogeneity of countries in the region is a limiting factor that retards growth and stakeholders will be focusing on reviewing and consolidating economic policies. Technology transfer and the arrival of the undersea high-speed data cables in East Africa will improve the information technology and communications industry tremendously.

The effects of climate change, such as floods and droughts, are set to pose a major threat to development. The challenge posed by food (in)security is a potential source of conflict in the region

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ACID TEST

Will Ocampo Unravel Kenya’s Transitional Justice Conundrum?

I said I will present the case to the pre-trial chambers, I did it, I said I will come back when investigations are allowed by the court, I have done it. I am saying I will open two kinds of investigations of six suspects against those who bear the greatest responsibility — The International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor

By SHITEMI BARON KHAMADI

“K

enya’s case is the easiest that the ICC has handled”. These are the words of Luis Moreno Ocampo, the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Ocampo contends with the fact that “no one is proud of the heinous crimes that occasioned the post-election violence in Kenya”.

A great deal of literature, much of it good intentions, surrounds transitional justice in Kenya and the place of the ICC in securing justice for many who feel aggrieved due to the post poll violence. Indeed, the debate on how Kenya will move forward has dominated the Kenyan and international milieu since the disputed 2007 presidential elections. Various approaches of tackling the complex issue were elaborated in the Agenda Four items of the National Accord and Reconciliation deal brokered by the negotiation team chaired by Dr Kofi Annan, a one-time UN secretary-general.

The Waki Commission that investigated the PEV and came up with recommendations on how to deal with the chaos recognised transitional justice as a challenge to

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Kenya and therefore recommended that should Kenyans fail to establish a local tribunal, then a list of suspects should be forwarded to the ICC.This move should be discussed from the perspective that many Africans feel the ICC was established to punish them and open up a new frontier to exacerbate neo-colonialism.

PROCECUTION

Of critical evidence to those who front this view is the fact that most cases at the ICC, be they at the investigation, prosecution or warrant stages, emanate from the African continent. This view fails to recognise the fact that of the 111 ICC state parties, 30 are African countries.

Most of the cases in the ICC were fronted by African governments themselves and not the ICC.Joseph Kony, Vincent Otti, Okot Odhiambo and Dominic Ongwen, who have arrest warrants out for them, were referred by the Ugandan Government. Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, Bosco Ntaganda, Germain Katanga and Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui were fingered by the DRC Government.

Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo was referred by the government of the Central African Republic and his

case has just started, where he has pleaded not guilty to five charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the CAR. Bemba’s undoing is that he failed to stop his soldiers from committing the crimes, hence the charge of the crime of omission.President Omar Hassan Ahmad Al-Bashir, Ahmad Muhammad Harun (“Ahmad Harun”), Ali Muhammad Ali AbdAl-Rahman (“Ali Kushayb”) and Bahr Idriss Abu Garda’s cases were however different, since it was the Security Council that referred the case to the ICC though Abu Garda voluntarily surrendered himself to the court. “This means that whereas Sudan is not a state party to the ICC, Security Council resolutions are binding, hence it is in order for Ocampo to prosecute them”, affirms Dr Eusebio Wanyama, an international lawyer. The Kenyan case came out of the Waki Commission, an internal trajectory.

Ocampo is well aware of the long process which ICC proceedings involve that does lead to doubts from Kenyans. He asserts, “Those who are sceptical and distrust the process, keep the scepticism, respect the truth and try to find information and make your own judgment”.

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Perhaps he finds wisdom in elaborating his CV as a way of assuring Kenyans of the due process of law.

Ocampo rose to prominence when he prosecuted the military junta in Buenos Aires, Argentina, his homeland, and other martial cases. Here, he said, “normally massive crimes are committed to protect a personal group, not because a person is bad”. This is how the military junta justified its killings of over 20,000 people and the displacement of millions in the 1980s.

As for his academic accomplishments, Ocampo taught two seminars at the Harvard School of Law. One was on fighting corruption and the other on establishing the rule of law in the world. The call to be the first ICC prosecutor was, therefore, well contemplated.

INVESTIGATION

The prosecutor can initiate an investigation in three different ways. State parties of the ICC can refer situations to the prosecutor, the United Nations Security Council can request the prosecutor to launch an investigation or the prosecutor may initiate investigation proprio motu (on his own initiative) on the basis of information received from reliable sources.

This last trigger mechanism is being used as precedence in the Kenyan case.Fighting impunity and respect for the rule of law are a quagmire for Kenya. The political class find solace in their proximity to power and therefore manoeuvre at own will. The Report of the UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial Executions, Philip Alston, averred that “…those responsible for the post-election violence, including members of the police force responsible for extrajudicial executions and officials who organised or instigated violence, remain immune from prosecution”.

This can, however, be put to rest if Kenya takes heed of lessons from

be the responsibility of the Kenyan people. This mechanism resonated well in Rwanda where, while the ICTR prosecuted those who bore the greatest responsibility, the Gacaca courts handled other cases.

Kenya set up the Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission to foster healing and reconciliation among citizens. The commission has however faced credibility and integrity drawbacks, most of which target the chairman, Ambassador Bethwel Kiplagat, who has resigned and is awaiting a tribunal to investigate his conduct. It must be unravelled soonest possible. A local tribunal should also be set up to ensure a three- pronged approach to justice. neighbouring Rwanda. In fact, an international mechanism to stop and prevent further atrocities in Rwanda through the establishment of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) in Arusha has put Rwanda on a path to prosperity. The 2010 World Bank report on doing business ranked Rwanda at position 67, the best in East Africa, compared to Kenya’s 95, Uganda at 112, Tanzania at 131 and Burundi at 178 out of 183 countries.

The ICC prosecutor assures that he shall deliver justice in Kenya: “I said I will present the case to the pre-trial chambers, I did it, I said I will come back when investigations are allowed by the court, I have done it. I am saying I will open two kinds of investigations of five or six suspects against those who bear the greatest responsibility; this is my responsibility to prevent further atrocities”.

Ocampo was however emphatic that he will not do everything for Kenya. “I expect Kenyans to equally take part in the cases by prosecuting other small cases. Don’t expect me to do everything. You have to use local mechanisms by engaging in the justice debate and have local leaders to find the way forward”. Prosecuting the small fish will therefore

JUSTICE: The International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor, Luis Moreno Ocampo

Rwanda’s Paul Kagame was re-elected almost unopposed with 93 per cent of the vote, making him the most

‘popular’ Commonwealth leader in the region

PRINCIPLE

Discussions of ICC involvement should be guided by the complementarity principle that guides the court. As such, the court can only do so much and the rest is up to Kenyans to decide the future. Elections will come and pass, but how to ensure peaceful polls is the test that Kenya has. “Take responsibility and use traditional means to solve problems. And this is an example Kenya can set for the rest of the world”, an optimistic Ocampo affirms.Thanks to political gerrymandering, Ocampo has opted to go for an open court. This means, as the year closes, Kenyans will have known the six people he intends to prosecute.

Unfortunate scenes have in recently seen a spat between the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) and politician William Ruto, along with other politicians and two witnesses who have been under KNCHR protection, but Ocampo has disowned them. Ruto presented himself to the ICC investigators for questioning, flying all the way to The Hague and back. It remains to be seen just how and when Kenya’s sacred cows will be brought to book, and with what lessons for the region

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NEW LEAF

Icy Kenya-SA Ties Thaw

Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe for the two states respectively sign memorandum of understanding covering agriculture and commerce, ending years of frigid relations, writes RABURA KAMAU

S

ometime in 1997, Nelson Mandela, then the President of South Africa, made a stop-over at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi, on his way to Europe. As protocol dictates, the government ordered a red carpet welcome besides dispatching high ranking officials to meet him at the presidential lounge.

When the jet carrying the president touched down, there was no sign of the old man. And wait the Kenyan officials did! Up until it was time for the plane to depart for Europe. There were questions all round. What was happening? Was Madiba indisposed? The explanation given for the snub was that the president was tired and was fast asleep. This would have been the first time Mandela would be stepping on Kenyan soil as president of the now democratic South Africa. He didn’t, and he never did, until he retired, handing over the leadership mantle to Thabo Mbeki in 1999.

And as a good student of the grand African statesman, Mbeki also didn’t see the need to visit Kenya during the entire period he was president for close to 10 years.

It hasn’t been clear why the South African leadership didn’t find it worth the while to cultivate diplomatic relations with the leadership in Kenya at the highest political levels. This is despite a trip to South Africa by former President Daniel Moi in 1994 for Mandela’s swearing in, and two by his succes-

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cretly hosted Pik Botha, the then apartheid South Africa’s Foreign Affairs Minister, in Nairobi, leaving the country in a diplomatic embarrassment when the “brief stopover” in Nairobi was discovered to have involved a high-level meeting with senior government officials.

Later, Frederik Willem de Klerk, the last apartheid President, paid a visit to Kenya when most of Africa completely shunned him.

PENETRATE

sor Mwai Kibaki in 2003 and 2010.

However, analysts point at historical factors which may have contributed to the cold feeling towards Kenya by South Africa. It is alleged that during Jomo Kenyatta’s era, the country, as a member of the Non-Aligned Movement, showed a soft-spot for the apartheid regime in South Africa when the rest of the continent, led by Tanzania, was a staunch critic of the leadership with strictly no official interactions socially, politically and in commerce.

Matters were not helped either when in the early 1990s, Kenya se-

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Then came the trade wars between the two countries soon after the first democratic elections in SA in 1994. Keen to roll over into the rest of Africa after the lifting of trade sanctions, South African companies found it really difficult to penetrate the Kenyan market, despite massive investments. The competition was proving tougher than anticipated.

A good example is Castle Breweries Ltd, a subsidiary of South African Breweries, up at Thika Town, 30km from Nairobi but which was forced to close down barely five years into operations due to stiff competition from East African Breweries Ltd. Earlier, EABL’s flagship brand, Tusker, had been denied entry into the South African market on the grounds that its trademark was similar to another brand in that country.

And as recently as last March, Media24, a South African media company, closed its East Africa Magazines publishing business in Kenya, citing an unfavourable

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business environment. The company was the publisher of True Love, Drumand Move magazines.

At the same time, Kenya’s businesses continued facing tough trade barriers in the South African market, making very little impact in the process.

Nevertheless, after close to 15 years of lukewarm relations, the story is changing.

This is best illustrated by South Africa’s Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe’s high profile official visit to Kenya in November that led to the signing of several agreements between the two countries.

Motlanthe is the highest ranking South African official to visit the country since 1994. He was in Nairobi on invitation by Kenya’s Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka.

The two leaders presided over the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Agriculture and an Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation. It was clear during the visit that though South Africa’s companies have been unable to find a foothold in Kenya, trade between the two countries heavily tilts in favour of the former.

BARRIERS

According to Motlanthe,the value of South African imports to Kenya in 2009 was nearly US$850 million, while exports from Kenya to South Africa were valued at a mere US$42 million. This was attributed to trade barriers and the advancement of the South African economy, which manufactures and sells high value goods such as heavy machinery, vehicles and computers to Kenya, while the latter mainly sells curios, handicraft, woven products and flowers.

In a speech during the KenyaSouth Africa Business Breakfast Meeting under the Theme 'Doing business in Kenya & South Africa', the deputy president noted that

the combined volume of trade between the two countries increased steadily over the past five years.

“On average, the volume of trade since 2005 increased by almost 30 per cent year-on-year,” he said, adding that the agreement will facilitate investment by removing existing obligations of taxation in both jurisdictions.

The MoU on agriculture is aimed at addressing the opening of South African markets to Kenyan produce. Currently, Kenya tea exports attract an import tax of four rand per kilogramme, while soda ash attracts a 5 per cent levy, down from the previous 12 per cent. Kenya, the world’s biggest exporter of black tea, is pushing for a zero rate on tea and soda ash exports to South Africa.

Kenya has also been unable to export livestock and related products due to strict phytosanitary rules (government regulations that restrict or prohibit the importation and marketing of certain plant species, or products of these plants, so as to prevent the introduction or spread of plant pests or pathogens that these plants may be carrying), while a ban on avocados from Kenya is in place due to fruit fly infestation.

But according to Kenya’s Trade Minister, Chirau Mwakwere, the country had completed all the requirements for the above and was waiting for South African inspectors to ratify compliance.

Other agreements reached were on the need for Kenya to help train South Africans on management of co-operative movements, described as ‘very well developed’ in Kenya where they control 43 per cent of the national GDP. Exchange programmes on tourism, fisheries and higher education will also be improved, while Kenyans will be trained on management of penal institutions. Applications for business visas will also be eased to help

Kenyan businessmen have easier access to the South African market. The two countries promised to assist each other in promoting peace and stability in their respective regions, Kenya is the guarantor of Sudan’s Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) while South Africa is the chief mediator for Zimbabwe’s Unity Government (ZUG).

CO-OPERATION

To help achieve all this, the two countries will launch a ‘KenyaSouth Africa Joint Commission for Co-operation’ in February 2011, intended to streamline the current trade exchanges which have seen positive growth rates slowly outpacing the negative effects of the global financial crisis.

Motlanthe added that emphasis will be placed on formation of a COMESA, SADC and EAC free trade area in order to create a stronger market, as proposed in Arusha in 2008.

And to cap it all, Jacob Zuma, South Africa’s President, is expected to make a State visit to Kenya next year at a date to be announced later.

The two countries have much in common and a lot to share.

While South Africa is the economic powerhouse in the South, Kenya occupies a similar position in eastern Africa. Above all, it was Kenya’s Professor Washington Okumu who made the first democratic elections possible in South Africa, when he brokered a previously elusive political deal between African antagonists the African National Congress (ANC) party led

by Mandela and the Inkatha Freedom (IF) Party, led by Mongosuthu Buthelezi. Without the deal, it was becoming increasingly unlikely that the elections would be held peacefully. And without the deal, South Africa probably wouldn’t be what it is today!

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This is best illus-

trated by South

Africa’s Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe’s

high profile official visit to Kenya in November that led to the signing of several agreements between the two countries

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MEDIATION OFFENSIVE

Peace and Security Top on Region’s Prosperity Agenda

The Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (Igad) conference in Nairobi tackles key themes of governance, terrorism, drug tra icking, small arms proliferation, piracy,poverty and instability

By MBOYA CLIFF OCHIENG’

I

n his acceptance speech for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993, Nelson Mandela averred, “We speak here of the challenge of the dichotomies of war and peace, violence and non-violence, racism and human dignity, oppression and repression and liberty and human rights, poverty and freedom from want.”

These words hold true of IGAD’s decisiveness and commitment to lasting peace in the Horn of Africa today.

At the initiative of the African Union (AU), and within the framework of the Year of Peace and Security in Africa, IGAD organised a peace conference themed ‘Challenges and prospects of peace and security in the region’, in Nairobi, from, 25-27th November, 2010.

The reflection session aimed at giving “further drive to efforts to bring an end to the scourge of armed conflicts and political crises in the region”.

In attendance were IGAD members Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda. Scholars from the region, representatives of the AU, the Conflict Early Warning and Response Unit (CEWERU) and heads of member countries, IGAD’s specialised offices and staff of the IGAD secretariat were there in force too. The conference adopted the theme ‘Make peace happen in

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Africa’, motivated by the initiatives to concretise peace in Africa in general, and peace and stability in the IGAD region in particular. This was in furtherance of the Tripoli Declaration of August 31, 2009, when the year 2010 was declared the African Year of Peace, further energising the participants.

Recognition and appreciation of the important gains made in recent years towards peace and security in the region escalated. The sustainability of the goals so far achieved and seeking new ways of addressing new and complex ones were underlined, especially in regard to dealing with emerging security concerns threatening peace and security in the region.

CHALLENGES

The IGAD Executive secretary, Engineer Mahboub Maalim, in his opening statement, said, “This workshop must underscore the need for continued discussions and consultations on how to best tackle the challenges facing peace and security among the states in the IGAD region”.

Maalim felt that the continued fragility of many African states, especially within the Horn of Africa, “suggests that we may continue to witness violent conflicts and severe political upheavals, therefore peace and security remain top of

the agenda of African prosperity”.

Indeed, the challenges related to governance and the immediate threats posed by terrorism, drug trafficking, illicit proliferation of small arms and light weapons, piracy and other associated scourges and the long-term challenges arising from these threats and enduring poverty and instability in the region were discussed at length.

In perspective, weaker governments are vulnerable to a proliferation of crimes of international and municipal concern, hence a critical component of addressing the greater whole of modern day quandaries.

A multi-dimensional approach is acutely necessary. Deliberations bordered on the role of women, the CSOs and the media in conflict prevention and resolution and peace building. Neighbouring nations that have made headway in mitigating conflicts offer valuable lessons for present and future mechanisms. Past experiences such as the peace process in Somalia and Sudan, the importance of harnessing indigenous knowledge for conflict prevention and resolution and also institutionalising mediation efforts in the implementation of the African peace and security threats in the region are feasible.

The continuity and sustainabil-

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ity of this process holds the key to realising tangible gains over time.

“In fact, such events can create a common understanding of peace and security issues in the region, bearing in mind the achievement of lasting peace on the continent requires closer coordination and consultation at all levels”, Maboub noted.

It was, therefore, apparent that IGAD considers creating regular forums of the stakeholders that include the policymakers, academia, CSOs, media, practitioners in the area of peace and security, and experienced individuals in mediation efforts in the region for further reflections and exchange of views on common concerns.

DELEGATES

Such a consultative forum raised the bar in finding solutions on tackling conflicts. The recommendations reminded delegates of the inherent need and capacity to solve these issues locally. First, IGAD needs to establish a Mediation Support Unit and roster of mediators and make the necessary efforts to professionalise mediation in the region. Here, the culture and practice of appointing former heads of state as mediators without considering their capacity to effectively mediate in certain circumstances was acknowledged as impassive. Moreover, this could negatively influence the outcome of mediation efforts.

Secondly, the debate over the Nile’s waters came to the fore.

Noting the concern and anxiety caused by the disagreements over the use of the Nile’s waters and the possibility of escalation of hostilities to the point of armed conflict, the delegates urged IGAD to work together with the Nile Basin Initiative in order to deal with conflicts arising from the shared resource.

Thirdly, firmness and consistency in guaranteeing peace in Soma-

lia and Sudan are valuable assets to IGAD. Delegates urged IGAD to remain engaged in the peace processes in Sudan and Somalia and “take stock of the peace processes particularly in Somalia with a view to drawing lessons from repeated efforts and challenges in order to inform existing processes with renewed vigour”.

Fourthly, partnerships between IGAD and AU were discussed as favourable in harmonising activities related to peace and security.

It was, therefore, central that states up efforts to have Eritrea back in the institution. This is seen as the bridging gap to peace in the larger Horn of Africa and the world at large.

Fifthly, there was need for IGAD to further reflect on collaborative mechanisms to promote regional approaches for conflict prevention and resolution as they share a common security concern. Accordingly, Ms Barbara Among, a media expert from Uganda, emphasised that “the best collaborative measures be between the mediators and local communities. More tangibly, community radio could play a key role in this endeavour. It can easily be used to spread the message of peace guided by the fact that it is controlled by community needs. It is imperative to ensure these stations are not manipulated to promote negative ethnicity as was the case of Kenya in early 2008."

Kenya’s Internal Security Assistant Minister, Orwa Ojode, closed the workshop and thanked IGAD for choosing Nairobi to host the conference. He pledged continued support from the government in all efforts to enhance peace and security in the region. Ojode appreciated that IGAD has “a pool of mediators and comes in handy to complement peace and security efforts in the region”.

WAR ON DRUGS GETS TO A HIGH German and Kenyan police officers joined forces in a five day training course on suppression of drug-related crime as last year drew to a close. German Ambassador Margit Hellwig Boette and the Director of the Kenyan Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Francis Muhoro, officially opened the workshop.

The practicum came before the United States Ambassador to Kenya, Michael Ranneberger slapped travel bans on four senior members of the Kenyan government and one prominent businessman for alleged involvement in narcotics trafficking.

Speaking in Mombasa, Ranneberger declared the war on narcotics trafficking in Kenya must be taken to a new level.

The U.S. envoy called on citizens and politicians to help fight the illicit trade that has been booming in recent years.

Mombasa is Kenya’s largest port city and a notorious centre of drug trafficking in the region, particularly heroin and cocaine. Ranneberger said the trade was a dangerous and growing problem for Mombasa and Kenya.

During the 5-day workshop, some 25 Kenyan CID officers delved into issues related to illegal narcotics trafficking, such as information and intelligence gathering, physical appearance and effects of drugs as well as the hiding places.

The exercise was organised by the German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) and the German Police Liaison Officer in Nairobi and featured lectures by high ranking German police officers. It was a demonstration of the close and successful German - Kenyan police cooperation and will further strengthen the ties and fight against drug trafficking.

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NEW ERA

Enhancing Ties of Civilisation

DEA’s JANE MWANGI interviewed Egyptian Ambassador to Kenya, KADRI FADHI ABDEL MOTTALEB on the Nile Controversy and bilateral cooperation in trade, tourism and agriculture

Egyptian Ambassador to Kenya, Kadri Fadhi Abdel Mottaleb

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D

iplomat East Africa: Tell us about Egypt’s diplomatic mission in Nairobi and the diplomatic agenda you are pursuing in the East African region.

Ambassador Mottaleb: The Egyptian Government has a new agenda for African countries, especially the Nile Basin countries, aimed at opening cooperation to wider areas. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Egypt is now sending more qualified diplomats to serve in African nations. We are helping Kenya in capacity building as well as in human resource mobilisation. Trade relations between Egypt and Kenya have seen

December-January 2011

a positive development as a result of both countries’ membership in COMESA, as well as Egypt’s belief in bolstering trade with African countries especially COMESA countries, in order to improve the wellbeing of their people. Kenya has been and continues to be a major ally of Egypt.

Q: What would you say are the main areas of cooperation between Kenya and Egypt?

A: Trade is a major area of cooperation and it is indeed very vibrant. In agriculture, tea is the most important Egyptian import from Kenya, as it constitutes more than 95% of total Egyptian imports. It should also be noted that

the improvement in the access of Egyptian products to the Kenyan market is due to both countries’ membership in COMESA. The most imperative Egyptian exports to Kenya are: sugar, iron and steel products, paper products, electrical transformers, pharmaceutical products and medicine and engineering equipment. Egypt has signed numerous Memorandums of Understanding with Kenya, such as the one on media and communication and information aimed at transmitting our expertise to our Kenyan brothers and sisters.

There is the Executive Programme on Educational, Scientific and Cultural Cooperation for the period between 2010 and 2013, the cooperation in Youth Affairs, and the MoU between the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands Reclamation of the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Ministry of Fisheries Development of the Republic of Kenya on Cooperation in the Fisheries Sector. Another is one on Cooperation in Higher Education, Science and Technology.

In addition to this, through the Egyptian Fund for Technical Cooperation with Africa affiliated with the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and through other Egyptian institutions, we provide technical cooperation assistance in agriculture, water, livestock, health, security, and capacity building.

Q: What factors boost the warm relations between the two

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countries?

A: Egyptian-Kenyan relations have always been founded on friendship and based on mutual cooperation and respect of each other’s sovereignty. Egypt has always provided support and assistance to the Kenyan people during times of crisis. The warm historical relations between us began before Kenya’s independence as it jostled for freedom against the shackles of colonialism. During the time of former President Gamal Abdel Nasser, the Egyptian Government provided support to the Kenyan Mau Mau movement through a diplomatic and media campaign focused against the British occupation of Kenya.

An Egyptian radio channel called The Voice of Africa broadcast in the Kiswahili language to support the Kenyan people in their struggle to liberate their country.

The most unique aspect was the fact that Egypt helped support the Mau Mau movement and the release of Jomo Kenyatta as Cairo was the first capital to open its doors to Kenyan national leaders, giving them the due support to revitalise their movement inside Kenya. We, on this front, provided homage to the late Oginga Odinga, Tom Mboya, Joseph Murumbi and James Gichuru.

Q: Your country has a vibrant tourism culture with major tourist attractions such as the iconic pyramids and Mount Sinai, among others. How does Kenya hope to borrow from this?

A: In tourism, we are a major force in this industry; Egypt received 13 million tourists in 2009, by 2015 we are targeting 70 million. I am pleased to say that we are happy to cooperate with Kenya in the field of tourism promotion through training courses and scholarships as we have more than five different faculties dealing with

tourism in our universities. Kenya has immense potential. In November, together with Kenya’s Tourism Minister, Najib Balala, we pledged to hasten the process of bilateral cooperation in tourism. We have invited Kenya’s private sector to Cairo for the International Trade Fair in March 2011, where they can participate and meet their counterparts. We have made available a 25-cubic-meter booth for the same. Egyptian civilisation dates back 7,000 years and our culture long before that. We are a cultivated people; this is rooted in our genes. Egypt is historically tied to the Holy Family — it’s where Joseph, Mary and Baby Jesus took refuge.

Q: Egypt has come out in aid of Kenya’s efforts in the restoration of the Mau Complex. This was revealed when President Hosni Mubarak pledged his support in May 2010. Tell us more.

A: Egypt is prepared to aid the conservation of Kenya’s water towers as they are a major source of the River Nile. On this endeavour, Egypt has joined in the restoration of the Mau Forest in cognisance of the fact that rivers from the Mau Complex drain into Lake Victoria that is also a principal source for the Nile River and farmers in Egypt and Sudan are being affected. In May, 2010, when President Hosni Mubarak held talks with Prime Minister Raila Odinga, he emphasised that Egypt would help Kenya and other countries at the source of the Nile to increase the water levels in Lake Victoria.

Q: After seeing the five upper riparian states unite against the 1929 and 1959 colonial agreements, by signing a new water pact which put an end to the historic rights of Egypt to the Nile waters, what is Egypt’s position on the controversy surrounding

the Nile?

A: The Nile is our lifeline as Egyptians. Our stand is clear and as a representative of the Egyptian Government, we are not competing but complementing each other. Based on the 1929 and 1959 colonial agreements, Egypt is entitled to the lion’s share of the Nile’s total flow of around 84 billion cubic meters; Sudan is entitled to 18.5 billion cubic meters, while seven upstream countries share the 14%.

Since May, Nile Basin countries Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Kenya signed a new deal to share Nile waters. Egypt and Sudan have now decided to take part in the January 25 meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Nile Basin countries to be held in Nairobi in order to discuss the legal and institutional implications resulting from the signature by five countries of the Nile Basin of the Framework Agreement on the Nile’s Water. We have agreed to unite our vision. The downstream countries receive a meagre share of the waters as 1.6 trillion cubic meters is lost as a result of evaporation and misuse. We therefore need a win-win situation so as to succeed in harvesting a fraction of the 1.6 trillion. Egypt is looking to cooperate with all Nile Basin countries because there is enough water, the challenge is in how to manage it, and we are totally openminded to discuss any project.

The Aswan High Dam is the biggest dam in the world; we have the capability of helping in water harvesting. We are working on coming up with exchange visits to Cairo in order to sensitise people about the Nile to thwart the perception that we are a hostile country; we are a brotherly nation. We do not dictate but rather share our know-how in every field. As Third World countries, we need to pull our resources together

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In tourism, we are

a major force in this industry; Egypt received 13 million tourists in 2009,

by 2015 we are targeting 70 million

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GOING THE EXTRA MILE

Adra’s Philanthropy Relieves the Misery of Millions A quarter century of working with communities in relief and development

By DEA STAFF CORRESPONDENT

T

heAdventistDevelopment and Relief Agency is a global development and humanitarian organisation of the Seventh day Adventist Church that works with people in poverty and distress to create just and positive change through empowering partnership and responsible action.

With a presence in 125 countries across the globe, Kenya is the regional headquarters for Africa.

ADRA Kenya, which began operations in 1985, initiates and administers projects in development, embracing community-based healthcare, water and sanitation, agriculture, small enterprise development, vocational education and limited relief work.

ADRA’s successful collaboration with partners such as the United Nations agencies and United States Government agencies, including USAID Food for Peace (FFP), Development Assistance Programmes (DAP), Global Health, Office of the Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) and PEPFAR enhances sustainability. In 2009, the value of ADRA International’s US Government-funded programmes was an estimated US$30 million.

The ADRA network also receives funding from the European Commission, World Food Programme (WFP), Global Fund and United Nations Development Programme

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(UNDP).

ADRA Kenya’s unique edge is embedded in the fact that its operations encompass communitybased participatory methods that emphasise local initiatives that position local partners and communities to sustain development activities. ADRA Kenya Country Director Gabriel Villarreal says that their work at the grassroots and involving the community in every phase from the proposals to implementation is what makes ADRA Kenya stand out.

ABSTINENCE

“The area of water and sanitation is our main focal point. Water is an abundant resource where I

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come from and, being a Columbian, was I awakened me to the stark reality of the scarcity witnessed by some Kenyan communities. I discovered that here, people walk over 15 kilometres to get this precious commodity.”

The ongoing water improvement project for Mwingi District funded by USAID at slightly over US$1.8 million has as its objective to increase access to clean water supply as well as decreasing the prevalence of common water-borne diseases affecting over 75,000 people. This project is expected to benefit over 200,000 people and 20,000 livestock.

Many charitable projects benefit from the largesse of charitable

•DNA

Diplomacy•News•Analysis

donors. One of these is the Abstinence and Behaviour Change for Youth (ABY) project, whose objective was to spread the message of abstinence and prevention of the spread of HIV/Aids to the communities. Its main focus areas were the larger Western Kenya frontier as well as Narok, Nakuru, Kericho and Transmara. The success of the project saw it benefit over 1,000,000 youth between the ages of 10-24 years. “On this particular project, we worked very closely with community and faith-based organisations with funding from USAID amounting to over US$5.7 million,” says Villarreal as he talks about another estimable undertaking — the Anti- Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) project aimed at disseminating messages of intervention and promoting advocacy tools on human, reproductive, health, sexual and child rights. The project has seen ex-circumcisers

abandon the practice and join in these efforts, complementing ADRA’s work.

FUNDING

As Kenya basks in the prospects of actualising its ambitious master plan of becoming a middle-class economy by the year 2030, efforts by organisations such as ADRA Kenya are set to thrust it closer in this direction. “ADRA Kenya is committed to this Vision as we work to strive for development in the communities because we recognise that Vision 2030 begins by advancing and empowering local communities in the areas of economic development, food security and emergency management,” declares Villarreal.

As the agency marks its 25th anniversary, the Country Director says he is glad to see ADRA Kenya working in the development arm and not just on the relief wing of

As the agency marks its 25th anniversary, the Country Director says he is glad to see ADRA Kenya working in the

development arm and not just on the relief wing of it

it. However, he bemoans the challenge of being donor-driven, which means their work depends on the availability of funding. “Funding is a big part of our work as the needs of the community are many.

We need to continue doing sensitisation in the developed world on the real need in Kenya so as to get more funding partners and do even much more.”

The other challenge, he says, is the coordination between other NGOs in order to avoid duplication of the humanitarian work.

“I believe that ADRA Kenya is doing a tremendous job, especially in the Central and Western part of the country — we are looking to penetrate the Northern part and the Somalia border as well,” he says. “I would like to see us writing proposals on facilitating development of the youth as there is so much potential there in microenterprise.” 

Congratulations ADRA Kenya 25Years

For a safe and worry-free

Festive Season

HEAD OFFICE

•GREEN AGENDA Planet Earth

CHALLENGED

Topography of Scarcity: The Africa Water Atlas

D

High population growth, socio-economic and climate change impacts and, policy choices, compound a continent-wide crisis — but there is plenty of good news too, writes PAUL UDOTO

ecember 1, 2010: The major challenges facing Africa’s water resources have been laid out in striking clarity in a new atlas compiled by the United NationsEnvironment Programme (UNEP). The Africa Water Atlas uses hundreds of before-and-after shots, detailed new maps and satellite images from 53countries to show the problems facing Africa’s water supplies, such as thedrying up of Lake Chad and the erosion of the Nile Delta, as well as new,successful methods of conserving water.

Some of the most arresting images in the Atlas, which was launched during Africa Water Week in Addis Ababa, include green clouds of eroded soil and agriculturalrun-off in Uganda, pollution from oil spills in Nigeria and a 3-km segment ofthe Nile Delta that has been lost to erosion.

MDGs

Research carried out for the Atlas shows that the amount of water available per person in Africa is declining. At present, only 26 of the continent’s 53 Countries are on track to attain the water-provision target of the MillenniumDevelopment Goals (MDGs) to reduce by half the proportion of the populationwithout sustainable access to drinking water by 2015.

Furthermore, only eight Afri-

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and Sudan are helping to improve food security.

The launch of the Atlas comes against the backdrop of a warning by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that rivers flowing from Mt Kenya and other water towers in East Africa risk running dry in the next 15 years, if the current trends in climate change are not reversed. TheUN agency added that ice caps on Mt Kenya, Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania andUganda’s Ruwenzori had been disappearing at an alarming rate.

Indeed,projections by scientists show that one of East Africa’s water towers, MtKilimanjaro on the Kenya/Tanzania border, may well lose its ice cap by 2020. population

can countries (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya,Botswana, Angola, South Africa and Egypt) are expected to attain the MDG targetof reducing by half the proportion of the population without sustainable accessto basic sanitation by 2015.

But in addition to these water challenges, the Atlas maps out new solutions and success stories from across the continent. It contains the first detailed mapping of how rainwater conservation is improving food security in drought-prone regions. Images also reveal how irrigation projects in Kenya,Senegal

December-January 2011

The Atlas, compiled by UNEP at the request of the African Ministers’ Council onWater (AMCOW), shows how the challenges of water scarcity in Africa are compounded by high population growth, socioeconomic and climate change impacts and, in some cases, policy choices.

Prepared in cooperation with the African Union, European Union, US Department ofState and United States Geological Survey, the 326-page Atlas gathers information about the role of water in Africa’s economies and development,health, food security,

•GREEN AGENDA Planet Earth

trans-boundary cooperation, capacity building andenvironmental change in one comprehensive and accessible volume.

Dr Achim Steiner, UN UnderSecretary-General and UNEP Executive Director, says: “The dramatic changes sweeping Africa, linked with both positive and negative management of this continent’s vital water resources, are graphically brought home in this Atlas.

Steiner added: “Previous atlases in which UNEP has partnered have triggered change, including sparking government efforts to restore the Mau Forest Complexin Kenya and Lake Faguibine in Mali. I am sure that the before-and-after images presented in this Africa Water Atlas can also catalyse both greater awareness ofthe challenges and the choices and decisive, restorative and sustainable actionon the ground”.

In total, the Africa Water Atlas features over 224 maps and 104 satellite imagesas well as some 500 graphics and hundreds of compelling photos. The before-andafter photographs, some of which span a 35-year period, offer striking snapshots of local ecosystem transformation in several watersheds being converted to agriculture across the continent.

In addition to well-publicised changes, such as the drying up of Lake Chad, one of the Sahel’s largest freshwater reservoirs, or the declining Lake Faguibine in the Niger River Basin and falling water levels in Lake Victoria, the Africa Water Atlas presents satellite images of lesser-known environmental challenges,including: Erosion

Surface run off from the Entebbe area south of Kampala, Uganda, as eroded soil,agricultural run off and domestic waste runs into Lake

Victoria, degrading waterquality.

• In the Niger River Basin, thousands of oil spills, totalling over threemillion barrels of oil and waste water from oil production, are among the primarycauses of a serious decline in water quality.

• Overflow from Egypt’s Lake Nasser spillway created the Toshka lakes, which have since largely disappeared due to evaporation and, to a lesser degree,infiltration.

• The Africa Water Atlas also draws attention to Africa’s water towers, which are sources for many of Africa’s transboundary rivers and contribute immensely to the total stream flow of African major rivers. These supply life-giving resources and services in downstream areas such as water for hydropower,wildlife and tourism, small- and large-scale agriculture, municipalities and ecosystem services. The Water Atlas shows that most of these water towers, from the Middle Atlas Range in Morocco through to the Lesotho Highlands in southern Africa, are under extreme pressure as a result of deforestation and encroachment.

• Many areas of the Mau Forests Complex, the largest of Kenya’s water towers,had already been converted to agriculture in the 1970s. Over 100,000 ha of forest, roughly one-quarter of the Mau Complex’s area, have been destroyed since 2000. By 2009, several additional large forest areas had been converted to agriculture.

Africa is known to be a global hot spot for water constrained, rain-fed agriculture and climatedriven food insecurity with about 100 million people in Africa living in these areas. But new research, captured in the Atlas, reveals

Many areas of the Mau Forests Complex, the

largest of Kenya’s water towers,

had already been converted to agriculture in the 1970s. Over 100,000 ha of forest, roughly one-quarter of the Mau Complex’s area, have been destroyed since 2000

that there are also ‘hopespots’ in drought-prone environments where there is enormous potential for expanding simple water-harvesting techniques.

For the first time, the wide distribution of these ‘hopespots’ has been overlain on a map — images from the Water Atlas show how the successful harvesting of rain water in the Horn of Africa, particularly in Kenya, is already mitigating the risk for farmers and helping to reduce food insecurity in their communities.The main findings of the Africa Water Atlas present challenges and opportunities for Africa as the continent strives to improve the quantity, quality and use of its water resources. These challenges focus on the two-sided nature of water issues in Africa — surplus and scarcity, under-developed and over-exploited. Water scarcity challenges Africa’s ability to ensure food security for its population. Agriculture uses the most water in Africa and the estimated rate of agricultural output increase needed to achieve food security is 3.3 per cent per annum.

Hydroelectricity supplies 32 per centof Africa’s energy, but electricity use is the lowest in the world. Africa’s hydropower potential is under-developed. Africa is endowed with large and often under-utilised aquifer resources that contain excellent quality water and could provide water security in times of drought. But the continent faces the challenge of providing enough water for its people in a time of growing demand and increased scarcity Africa is one of the most vulnerable continents to climate change and climate variability. The continent is already subject to important spatial and temporal rainfall variability. Some regions are becoming drier and floods are occurring more regularly, with severe impacts on people’s livelihoods

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•GREEN AGENDA Planet Earth

ENVIRONMENTAL DIPLOMACY

A Green Economy for Africa

The continent contributes only about 3.8 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions yet its countries are among the most vulnerable to climate change in the world

BY JANE MWANGI

T

he 8th African Development Forum held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from October 13-15 witnessed key policy drivers come together in a partnership that promises to deliver a green economy.

The Forum mulled how the continent’s 53 nations can transit to a low-carbon, resource-efficient Green Economy. This sets the stage for the highly anticipated African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) set to be held in 2011. As it draws

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nearer, governments are focusing on smart policy moves and creative investments across sectors, ranging from agriculture and transport to fisheries and forests, and how this can drive green and sustainable growth alongside job creation and livelihoods for Africa’s one billion citizens.

An ambitious partnership was developed by key masters in the field of finance, economy and development on Africa’s options for a Green Economy. The African Union, African Development Bank, UN Economic Commission

for Africa (UNECA) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) came together to front a merger aimed at fast-tracking a low carbon, resource efficient growth in Africa.

The 8th African Development Forum was attended by 700 delegates from Africa and beyond, including the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Jean Ping, the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Meles Zenawi, the Prime Minister of Norway, Jens Stoltenberg, French Environment Minister Jean-Louis Borloo, Af-

•GREEN AGENDA Planet Earth

UNEP has begun the implementation of a regional pilot partnership covering seven African countries — Burkina

Faso, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Senegal and South Africa rica Development Bank President Donald Kaberuka, UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner and UNECA Executive Secretary Abdouile Janneh. UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director Steiner, speaking during the forum, said: “Africa is at key crossroads in its history. It is facing multiple challenges from overcoming poverty and coping with climate change to rising water scarcity and food insecurity in part linked with sharp levels of desertification.”

Steiner observed that it was

also a moment of rising opportunities that many leaders in Africa are glimpsing from the potential for renewable energy such as wind and solar to the extraordinary economic importance of the continent’s nature-based assets such as its forests, river systems and coastal waters — including a young and, in many cases, increasingly skilled workforce.

UNEP has begun the implementation of a regional pilot partnership covering seven African countries — Burkina Faso, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Senegal and South Africa.

“Indeed, when you look across this continent, leaders and business, communities and citizens are seizing opportunities to redefine and re-focus their development paths along Green Economic lines.

It may seem that escalating crises and the often glacial international response means countries, including those on the African continent, are unable to respond.

But Africa is not doing this,” Achim observed.

African states are not being left behind as part of this transition. Ethiopia, through some of its pioneering work in ‘green accounting’ has been putting monetary values on soil erosion and deforestation in terms of the impacts on GDP and the tripling of forest cover since the turn of the century.

In July this year, regional Heads of State meeting under the Economic Community of West African States endorsed an initiative

by President Aboulaye Wade of Senegal aimed at significantly expanding solar power in order to boost energy access.

Delegates agreed that evolving Environmental Diplomacy is becoming an increasingly important and strategic policy platform

for international relations and called for a further workshop that engages African diplomats at the UN headquarters in New York.

According to Josue Dione, Director, Food Security and Sustainable Development Division at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), and whose Division is leading the organisation of the Forum, the continent contributes only about 3.8 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions, yet its countries are among the most vulnerable to climate change in the world: “The imminent and project impact of the threat of climate change to sustainable development in Africa makes this Forum timely and urgent.”

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) data reveals that a quarter of Africa’s population lives within 100 kilometres of the coast and most of Africa’s largest cities are along coasts and therefore vulnerable to sea level rise, coastal erosion and extreme events.

The Forum, therefore, also aimed at addressing the increasing challenges through a spirited, action-oriented approach to dialogue and attention to existing research.

The African Development Forum is an ECA initiative organised jointly with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the African Union Commission (AUC). It is intended to advance an Africadriven development agenda.

The African Development Forum has gained recognition over the years as an effective forum for informed dialogue and consensus building on key African development challenges, and for agreeing on implementation priorities and strategies at crucial national, subregional and regional levels across the continent

December - January 2011

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Investment•Technology•Prosperity

December-January 2011

EA’s Bluest SAFARICOM: MAKING A DIFFERENCE

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Investment•Technology•Prosperity

When DIPLOMAT EAST AFRICA first hit the newsstands a year ago this December, we identified our typical readers in the foundation editorial as being “deeply interested and involved in diplomacy as it meshes with geo-political issues throughout this region, in business, trade, entrepreneurship, education, health and innovation (the prosperity factors) and in the environment and development”.

Since then we have interviewed ambassadors, international civil servants and two Presidents, among other eminent persons. We are proud to cap our first year by adding to this growing list of powerhouse interview subjects a man and the corporation that he leads that truly exemplify the prosperity factors in eastern Africa — Mr BOB COLLYMORE, 52, the new CEO of Safaricom, the region’s greatest runaway corporate success story.

Mr Collymore, the successor to Safaricom founding CEO Michael Joseph, spoke to DEA Editorial Director KWENDO OPANGA at the Nairobi headquarters of East Africa’s biggest company by market value, with photojournalist GAZELLE KEMUMA filming the encounter. Excerpts of a great conversation...

D

IPLOMATEASTAFRICA: Has Safaricom peaked or are there milestones still to be attained?

BOB COLLYMORE: Beyond a shadow of a doubt, Safaricom has not peaked. It is like saying that technology has peaked or that human needs have peaked. We have met some of those needs, some of which are very basic needs, and that to me means we need to speak with each with a degree of ease and without — with a degree of in-expense, if you like. However, there is much more that we need to do to contribute to Kenya’s society.

Q: You might want to explain, without, of course, letting out your secrets, what these things you wish to do for the Kenyan society are?

A: The technologies that we have and will continue to have over the course of the next five or 10 years will

allow us to make a big impact and I will focus on two examples. One of the impacts we will have will be with regard to children’s access, people's access, to information.

If I could use an example that is overused — if you ask a child sitting in London or Boston about any information in the world, with a quick click of the mouse that child will be able to give you that information immediately. That child has free access to huge amounts of information and a huge bandwidth. It will not matter how complex the question is, that child in the developed world will give you the answer.

If you take any child in Kisumu or in Kitale, and ask him any question in the world, you could come back in 10 years’ time and he may be able to give you the answer. Now what can Safaricom do? Safaricom can get that child connected; we can bring them the device, we can bring them

the connection, we can bring them the low cost connection to information that will then bring Kenya to that position from where that child can compete on a global platform.

The other example regards malaria. Since you sat down [for the interview] about three minutes ago, about six babies have died of malaria in Africa. This is a curable disease; it is not like HIV/Aids. But the reason these children die is because they do not have access to medication. It is not because of lack of diagnosis; we can all spot malaria a mile away.

It is about access to medication and we can use the technologies that we have to aid and assist government in achieving what they want. Let me give you an example. In Tanzania, Vodacom, Vodafone, Norvatis and IBM have worked in partnership on a programme called SMS-for-Life to ensure that drugs are distributed across rural Tanzania and for the people to

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have optimal access to drugs.

In its pilot phase, more than 300,000 people had optimal access to drugs. The factor of these people having to walk long distances to pharmacies only to find there were no drugs was eliminated. It is a simple template Norvatis and the partners have developed into which the rural pharmacies fill in their stock needs on a given day and then these drugs are distributed to them.

There are other solutions I could mention from Latin America, Asia and other parts of Africa, which only Safaricom can do simply because we are the only telecommunications network which has greater reach than any other, more access to technology than any other; we have the only 3G network, we have a 2G network which covers 85 per cent of the Kenyan population and therefore the network for making a difference in people’s lives.

Of course we will make profits and of course we will drive revenues, which is what the shareholders expect me to do. But your question was whether Safaricom has peaked.

Safaricom does not measure whether it has peaked or not by how much money or profits we have made or how much revenues we have derived; we measure our achievement by how much we have contributed to the community in which we operate and that society includes our shareholders as well as our 17 million customers.

Q: You just talked about profits and your reach and recently there has come a new competitor in the market who has come up with new products — and excited the market quite a bit.

A: Products? You think so?

Q: Yes. You don’t think so?

A: They have dropped the price; that is not a product. If you are talking about products, I would expect something like M-pesa; that is a product. I would assume something

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something you can do with M-pesa which you can’t do with cash. Kenyans can expect a lot more with respect to M-pesa.

like mobile data; that’s a product. We haven’t seen any product; we have seen a price drop.

As my predecessor would say, any fool can drop a price and that is not a smart thing to do. The smart thing to do is we continue to invest in this market; we continue to take the lead in terms of technology ownership.

We continue to deliver the value that we talked about for our customers.

Maybe at some point they will do these things, but all we see now is a price drop.

Q: You mention M-pesa. You have been doing an upgrade lately. Is there more Kenyans should look forward to from M-pesa, or is that it?

A: With technology, you cannot say the end of the world is nigh! We are just starting. The reason why we are upgrading the network is because we want to put M-pesa on a platform that will handle an increased number of transactions from the current 70 per second to more than 200 per second. And the reason we are doing this is that there is much more that can be done with M-pesa. The simple answer to your question is that anything you can do with cash you can do with M-pesa and more.

When people travel for the festivities of Christmas and New Year many of them will abandon cash or actually they will put their money into their M-pesa accounts and travel and retrieve the money when they reach their destinations. So now we have

Q: Is M-pesa the best product Safaricom has or is there a rival?

A: M-pesa is certainly Safaricom’s best product. M-pesa is far ahead of anything else in this market, in this world. There is no other country that has as successful a money transfer as Kenya. But basically we have four products including M-pesa; the other is Voice, which we all use, then there is SMS, which most people use and then the broadband data access.

But none of these three has the lifechanging effect of M-pesa.

Q: You must be aware that when M-pesa was being introduced, the banks ganged up to fight it. Now what will they do? They embrace it, yeah?

A: The reason banks initially fought M-pesa is that people tend to fear change and they also saw Mpesa as a competitor. In fact, it is not a competitor and you are right — the banks are now on our side.

In fact, when the banks were building a lobby against M-pesa, they were not fighting M-pesa; they were building a lobby against wananchi, yet they had ignored these people for decades, saying they were poor.

Many banks had closed their branches — and I am not talking only about Kenya, but many countries in the world — and they now were fighting a product which the people had accepted and taken to their heart.

Now we have banks as our partners.

Q: It has been argued that M-pesa does not encourage saving or does not promote a saving culture. Do you agree? Is there a way M-pesa could be used to encourage saving?

A: There are a number of dimensions to that question. The first one is that is that the criticism is not justified. It is a bit like saying to me, ‘Bob you do not look good in dresses’. I wasn’t designed to look good in

•ECONOMY

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dresses. M-pesa was designed to be a money transfer service. The second dimension is that M-pesa actually encourages saving because, instead of having cash on you, you put it into your account and there it is safe.

There is a sizeable chunk of money which sits in M-pesa accounts.

People take their money out of their pockets and keep it in their M-pesa accounts and decide whether to keep it there or use it.

That criticism of M-pesa is unjustified and irrelevant.

Q: M-pesa wins awards, and, as we at DEA say, it seems to have formed a template for other countries. Are these countries doing exactly what M-pesa is doing or are they doing something different?

A: I was working in South Africa and have worked in Tanzania and all they have to do is to come to us and ask to share our experience. Michael’s [former Safaricom CEO Michael Joseph] team was always ready to share the experience and I will be more than happy to do so. Even recently Michael was in Tanzania trying to help. They are doing something so fundamentally wrong and they are not listening to us.

There are a few things that make M-pesa a success. One of them — and which is not easy to replicate — is that in Kenya it is a trusted brand.

It is the most trusted brand in Kenya.

Which other brand is more trusted?

Maybe East Africa Breweries — maybe — but there is no other brand. The Church could be a trusted brand. So if people trust you they will give you their money.

The second thing is we have a wide distribution network. We currently have 21,000 M-pesa agents.

And we set out not wanting to make a profit. People struggle with that because, as soon as they launch it [a money transfer service], they want to make a profit. So, they don’t want to invest in agents because they don’t want to lose money, and so it fails.

You want an agent to be a super-

market? An agent should be a duka [shop]. You don’t want people to get into a matatu to get to an agent to get their money. Understand your customers and we understand our customers. We understood what people wanted and we designed a product for them. There are more than 150 Mpesa equivalents around the world, but none of them has succeeded.

Even in Tanzania, with which country you speak the same language, it is not the success it is here. Any of the 3,000 people in this company can replicate M-pesa anywhere else, but you have to have the trust and you have to understand this is not about making money.

For a long time, I used to say to Michael ‘you keep showing us figures, but when is this thing going to make money?’ And he used to say, ‘in good time’, and we kept investing money. Now it is profitable and will get more profitable.

Q: Are Kenyans overseas making use of M-pesa?

A: We are creating more opportunities for them to do that. Today you can send money from England, but there are only a few outlets because we have this problem with intercountry transfers. We are, however,

working on a new product in collaboration with Western Union. Currently Kenyans can send money from London and Uganda and now that we have a new platform we are going to introduce more transnational services. We will soon introduce the service in the US with Western Union.

Q: Safaricom does quite a bit of CSR. Do you intend to continue?

A: Yes. I think this is very important for a corporate. My predecessor said to me ‘one reason why I support you is that you know what Safaricom has built’. And, as I said earlier, I do not just think of Safaricom in terms of profits and revenues, but I take a more holistic approach. I think about it in terms of people who are our customers, in terms of people who will be our customers and in terms of people who will never be our customers. One of the things we try to do is to meet the need where it exists and not where we have a base station.

Q: You have mentioned your predecessor. He was well-known to Kenyans, the media liked him and he could be quite outspoken if there was an issue. Do you find his shoes too big?

A: Not really.

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Q: Not really?

A: Michael and I are two different people. Michael built the Company from 16,000 customers to 16 million customers. He’s led a fantastic team and I am very privileged to be picking up such a strong team. Despite the personality cult which follows him, it was not of his making. I know how it came about and I do not know whether it was the right thing or wrong thing but that is just the way it was. I am frankly surprised at the cult status of this role.

As far I am concerned, I am just doing a job and I am surprised that this week this is Day Three and yet again I am on TV tonight. I do not know that there is any crisis for me to be on TV for three days running. I do not know what is going to happen when there is a crisis.

Q: You have not come across this in your career?

A: I am not used to this in any other country in any other job, unless you are the president. I don’t see this happen anywhere else. It happens in Kenya; it is unique to Kenya and I am surprised at how much interest there is in the job. All I am doing is managing a phone company and I am proud to be part of a large family of a phone company. I was in the company of 27 other CEOs at a conference recently and none of them gets this kind of attention. But I do not think it is Michael Joseph — I think it is the Kenyan media.

I have known Michael for 10 years. We wear different shoes and have different tactics. He brought the company where it is and we have to take it through the information age, where it is about those two children I talked about. It will be about what we do for rural health. So, the question of shoes is kind of irrelevant.

Q: Kindly tells us about Safaricom and the environment.

A: We won an award with the Total Eco-Challenge because we have planted more than 1 million trees.

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One of the priorities of our Foundation is the conservation of the environment, which is why we are involved in a lot of tree planting.

Secondly, we are a big consumer of electricity and most of our base stations are off the grid, so we continue to experiment with various ways of providing electricity — such as wind and sun — and we are confident we will find that which is more cost-effective.

I am going to drive the sustainability agenda during my tenure because Safaricom is one of East Africa’s more important companies and therefore it has the responsibility to set the tone and set the agenda. We will not wait for the general mood to swing before we respond; we will set the benchmarks.

Q: You have not been around for a long time, but you must have tried to find out what the people are saying about Safaricom. DEA can tell you that we have heard that as Safaricom has grown so also has the Customer Care department grown, but as the two have grown they have left the customer behind them.

When you call that number you will wait for an eternity as you listen to that recorded voice. Have you come across this complaint?

A: I have been here [in office] for five weeks, but I have been in Kenya for three months and most of this time I have spent talking to people, whether it is online or face to face. It is clear we have challenges and this is one of my top priorities right now.

I have three or four priorities for the remainder of this financial year. The first one is to fix this network because we are very painfully aware it is a very big issue for us. We have to fix the network and we have to fix the Customer Care issue.

Let me qualify that. We have some of the best people working in our Customer Care. They are all very bright young graduates; some have two degrees, some have three degrees and some are working on their

December-January 2011

Let me qualify

that. We have

some of the best people working in our Customer Care. They are all very bright young graduates; some have two degrees, some have three degrees and some are working on their masters degrees. These people are not silly

masters degrees. These people are not silly.

The challenge that I have is that of the volume of calls. If I benchmark that relative to other networks, the volume is disproportionate and that is because we are doing something else wrong. Once you get through to Customer Care it is great. So what is it we are doing wrong?

M-pesa alone accounts for about 20 per cent of our calls. We need to find a solution to M-pesa reversals — that is the call you make when you have sent money to the wrong number. Right now you can go into your phone book and send money from it. The other is Skiza. To call Skiza you have to know the code, but many call and then ask for the code. But when a customer makes that Skiza call it costs you Sh5 and it will cost me Sh40 to take that call. So my top priority is to fix the network and to fix the customer care.

Q: Lastly, can subscribers across the region expect further tariff reductions or has the market hit rock bottom?

A: Today Kenyan customers pay less than half the price per minute European customers pay.

Q: Is that so?

A: That surprises you, does it not?

Today the European customer pays 8 euro cents. Today Kenyans pay about Sh3, which is about 4 euro cents. Contrast that with the price of the network. In Europe you build the base station. In Africa you build the base station and you have to aircool it because it is hot. You have to put generators in it because there is no power and when you put generators in it you have to put in diesel.

When you put diesel in it you have to put a watchman and when you put a watchman and you have to put a second watchman to watch the first one.

Our costs are considerably higher than our European colleagues’

•PICTORIAL Lights•Camera•Action

1. KARIBU: President Mwai Kibaki congratulates HE Mr Geoffrey Peter Tooth, High Commissioner of Australia to Kenya after he received his Credentials at State House, Nairobi.

4. INSHALLAH: President Mwai KibaKi congratulates HE Mr Yoqoub Yousef Eida Al-Sanad, Ambassador of Kuwait to Kenya at State House, Nairobi.

2. CONGRATULATIONS: President Mwai Kibaki Congratulates HE Mr Etienne De Poncins, Ambassador of France to Kenya after he received his credentials at State House, Nairobi.

5. WELCOME: President Mwai Kibaki receives credentials from HE Mr Por Ludvig Magnus, Ambassador of Norway to Kenya at State House, Nairobi.

3. ATTENTION: President Mwai Kibaki receives credentials from HE Mr Toshihisa Tokata, Ambassador of Japan To Kenya at State House, Nairobi.

6. ACCREDITED: President Mwai Kibaki Receives Credentials From HE Mr Ndumiso Ndima Ntshinga, High Commissioner of the Republic of South Africa to Kenya At State House, Nairobi.

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A PERIPATETIC GEM

Maasai Market: A Moveable Cultural Feast Thousands of shoppers troop to this travelling tourist attraction both to buy into and learn about diverse cultures. The kaleidoscope of beauty, colour and array of artefacts is simply stunning, reports PENINA GITUMA

M

ention Nairobi’s Maasai Market and what comes to mind — for the sadly uninitiated — is a market for the Maasai community or rather a market that trades exclusively in Maasai wares.

But to the cognoscenti, those in the know, this renowned cultural bazaar bursting with accessories is one of the Kenyan capital city’s foremost delights.

Maasai Market is an ambitious initiative seeking to improve the well-being of Kenyan artisans. It is one of the biggest markets in Kenya

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and started in early 1980s as a tourist centre, where visitors would go to the site to see Maasai people from the abounding African culture wearing authentic clothes, accessories and jewellery.

Their astounding cultural wares that set them apart them from other communities were enticing and thus attracted people who came to see the popular culture and buy their products.

Situated within Nairobi’s central business district (CBD) in the Nairobi High Court’s spacious parking lot, the market trades on Saturdays and Sundays from 7am to

December - January 2011

7pm and accommodates thousands of traders. On Sundays, the market records low business since most traders move to the outskirts of town, to Yaya Centre, creating a fresh and friendly atmosphere for traders evading the hustle and bustle of the city centre.

The Yaya Maasai Market operates from 9am to 5.30pm and sells a wide array of handmade products that are purely African. This market complements the shops at Yaya Centre, giving shoppers an opportunity to do the rest of their shopping at Yaya’s ultra-modern

coffee shops, pubs, reataurants and boutiques. It is simply a place you cannot afford to miss. I am now compelled to baptise Maasai Market a nomadic market, as it moves much like the tribe originally did.

On Fridays, traders pour in their thousands into the high-end Village Market in Gigiri, bringing together 400 artisans and craftsmen who specialise in a dazzling array of cultural artefacts and accoutrements.

In one corner, an artisan is polishing his carvings. Not far away is a sculptor engraving names on a beautifully-carved wooden food tray and, at the far end, a lightskinned woman wrapped in a kikoi from head to toe is busy weaving a kiondo. (Kikuyu sisal basket).

My curiosity gets the better of me and I approach her. Mrs Margaret Mwangi, the owner of Screen Crafts, says the products are all handmade by local artisans, including the various accessories she weaves from the kikoi. She makes hats, handbags, ciondo (plural of kiondo) and dresses from kikoi and her wares sell fast due to their uniqueness. I am stunned, not only by the variety and beauty, but also by the knowledge that these articles are all locally made! I marvel at the creativity, innovativeness and the raw talent.

I also espy exquisite sculptures and carvings of different items

In one corner, an artisan is polishing his carvings. Not far away is a sculptor engraving

names on a beautifullycarved wooden food tray and, at the far end, a lightskinned woman wrapped in a kikoi from head to toe is busy weaving a kiondo. (Kikuyu sisal basket)

ranging from animals, chess boards, food trays, birds and wall hangings to masks that are a literal lesson in local history, the list is endless.

Most of the carvings are done by the Kamba and Kisii, the raw material being soapstone. I approach one sculptor who discloses that the business is seasonal and the prices are determined by the artisan depending on the labour and the availability of raw materials.

Just like other markets, here you must learn the art of negotiation as the prices of items is never fixed; the traders are affable, customeroriented and very cheerful. They always have sugary words to entice you to buy their wares, and they take the initiative to explain the product and how it’s made. By the way, this is the only market where you can request the artisan to custom-make

a product to suit your tastes and interests.

This cultural market — this veritable moveable feast, to borrow a phrase from that great admirer of Africana, the Nobel Literature Laureate Ernest Hemingway — has grown in leaps and bounds since its inception in the 1980s and attracts not just locals but international tourists, lured by the allure of the spectacular products. They constitute a huge market and of course they have to dig deeper into their pockets, being bearers of hard currency.

The Maasai community has been able to preserve its culture in the manner in which they dress, live and eat; hence you will find them dressed in their adorable garb.

Talk of stand-up marketing of their wares!

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Investment•Technology•Prosperity

CYBER CRIME

New Software Logs Out Hackers

The Internet, history’s greatest communications and wealth generation network, has been prey to spyware and other threats.

But the beginning of the end for malware is nigh, reports HELLEN KINUTHIA

A

recently-launched Internet security product in Kenya has generated immense interest among industry players and promises to raise the bar against hackers and other miscreants in e-crime.

Norton Internet Security 2011 helps prevent cybercriminals from stealing identity and money when clients search, surf, shop, socialise, and bank online.

Improved Norton Safe Web warns users of unsafe websites and suspicious online merchants dur-

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January - February 2010

ing search results. It even blocks known malicious sites to help keep users from getting scammed, according to Yolanda Tavares, their local Public Relations consultants.

“Norton is offering powerful free tools for consumers, regardless of the security they use, to provide all computers with a deeper level of protection. One of these free tools is Norton Power Eraser, which aggressively targets and eliminates the latest threats, including fake antivirus,” said a statement from the company last month.

“Fake antivirus programmes imitate legitimate software and provide a way for cybercriminals to swindle [consumers] out of huge sums of money each year. Norton Power Eraser is freely available online and as a link within the 2011 Norton products”, the company added.

The statement went on: “Viruses, cybercriminals, and other threats can make the Internet a dangerous place, even in Kenya. But the Norton Internet Security 2011, now available for purchase in Kenya is the fastest, lightest security suite and safeguards the computer without slowing it down.”

The system remembers and secures user names and passwords and prevents eavesdropping cybercriminals from swiping on personal or confidential information, the manufacturers say.

It also detects and eliminates viruses, spyware, and other threats, enabling email, chats, and download of files without getting or passing on threats to family and friends.

It provides mini-updates every 5­15 minutes, without interrupting the user or slowing down the computer, to help ensure users are protected against new threats.

The new product has been generated by Symantec, a global leader in providing security, storage and systems management solutions to help consumers and organisations secure and manage effective and safe computer use.

Internet hacking involves an infringement in a network or computer for identity theft, spread of viruses or worms, or for monetary gain. Kenya is vulnerable to Internet hackers owing to the recent introduction of numerous online transactions and accessible information.

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The new product must be a godsend for several government departments which have recently fallen prey to hackers who have made nonsense of official websites. A number of government websites have been hacked into, compromising a lot of data. The Ministry of Finance (treasury. go.ke), Kenya Government (Kenya.go.ke), State House (statehouse.co.ke) and the Administration Police (administrationpolice. go.ke) are some of the websites that have been tampered with.

According to reports, the most famous hack was in 2008, when the Department of Defence made attempts to transfer money to Ukrainian arms dealers over unsecured protocols and billions of shillings were intercepted by Russian hackers.

The new service by Symantec could not have come at a better time, what with on-line banking and other sensitive transactions taking place daily.

With the world becoming a global village, what used to be folklore is slowly being replaced by the Internet — fast. Now, via the Internet one can visit various destinations using Google Earth and communicate with people through web cams.

What appeared to be improbable, unattainable and inexplicable, the Internet has resolved. Not only has e-mail made communication in the last few years faster and cheaper, the World Wide Web has provided most Third World countries with viable information to better their economic, cultural, health and education status. Web sites such as Onedaywages.org and nuruinternational.org have created job opportunities for many, by providing financial aid to start small businesses.

Orphaned and abandoned children have found relief in homes that are aided and funded by or-

ganisations such as worldvision. com, hope-for-the-child.com and greatergood.com, plus well wishers online.

In Kenya, online jobs are at a peak, with many graduate students having the opportunity to make money while still acquiring an education. Access to information online is vital. This information changes day to day and thus fresh content is required. This has opened up an avenue of web content writing offered on sites like essaywriters.net, 4writers.net and freelancewriting.com, creating online jobs for many Kenyans.

Many organisations, too, have taken to marketing themselves online. Whereas most businesses were advertised by word of mouth or on TV, nowadays all one need do is type in a word and several companies offering the product or service sought are identified.

Mobile phone companies Safaricom (safaricom.co.ke), Yu (yu. co.ke), Zain (zain.com) and Orange (orange.co.ke) have taken product promotion and competition online. In fact, most search engines and social networking sites have these phone company websites attached to them.

Government institutions such as the Kenya Revenue Authority (kra.go.ke), Kenyan Immigration (immigration.go.ke) and Ministry

With the world becoming a global village, what used to be folklore is slowly being replaced by the Internet — fast.

Now, via the Internet one can

visit various destinations using Google Earth and communicate with people through web cams

of Transport (transport.go.ke), to mention only a few, have made it easy for the general public to acquire necessary information without the hassle of visiting far-flung government offices and queuing for hours. Trends are changing due to cultures of the world blending.

Customs are being incorporated worldwide, bringing forth a new and far advanced civilisation. The Internet has opened a door into an innovative, holistic world.

The Internet came to be in the late 1950s-early ’60s, but purely for Top Secret US military and Space Programme uses. Some 30-plus years later, it was fully available for public use and was introduced into the Kenyan market. Though access was limited mostly to large corporate organisations and the Government, this new technology of networking and communication was clearly bringing about a shift to the ‘norm’ of things.

Social network sites such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace have made it increasingly possible to build relationships with people all over the world. Online dating services have also simplified the task of finding love.

Accredited online education is achievable, as well as online shopping of household goods, clothes, accessories and all manner of devices. A large number of people are now finding it possible to work from home and earn a substantial amount of money from online jobs. However, the Internet era does not stop here. If anything, there is more work being put in by Google to provide high-speed Internet at low costs, even to remote parts of Third World countries.

Google begun this a couple of years ago through a project dubbed O3b Networks (Other 3billion). This means that by the completion of this project, the whole world should be accessible to most humankind

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•ECONOMY

Investment•Technology•Prosperity

CHINA & KENYA

A Win-Win Progress Partnership Knowledge is power, but it is power only when utilised. Knowledge is a tool and not a trophy to be kept on a display unit in the living room or office - AMBASSADOR LIU GUANGYUAN,

By DEA REPORTER

K

enya is said to be a darling of the donor community, given the in-pouring of largescale projects funding hinged on development. Economies such as China have gradually grown to be among the leading development partners. From 44 companies in Kenya in 2001, the number of Chinese firms has increased to more than 200, with the major ones including China Road and Bridges Corporation (CNBC), Huawei Telecommunications, the Sinohydro Corporation and Shengli Engineering. In addition is the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), involved in the exploration of oil in northern Kenya.

These Chinese companies are causing ripples in key sectors, including infrastructure, particularly the spectacular expansion of the Thika-Nairobi highway and energy, with their projects running into an accumulative official development assistance totalling Sh42 billion.

COMMUNIQUE

The relations date back to December 14, 1963, when the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Kenya signed a joint communiqué on the establishment of diplomatic relations. The continued support that China has extended to Kenya has also navigated into a rap-

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idly growing education and training cooperation, thus opening up new areas of development. It was on this subject that the Chinese envoy to Kenya, Ambassador Liu Guangyuan, held forth during the Hand-Over Ceremony of China-aided rural primary schools on November 17. The project comprises two rural primary schools — Mihang’o in Nairobi and Eronge in North Mugirango — a total investment of more than KSh100 million.

KNOWLEDGE

“

The Chinese Embassy is going to work harder to get more scholarships for Kenya in the future and I hope some of the students present will get chances to study in China. A Chinese language teaching team of five volunteers from China has been teaching in Kenya. In this year, more than 1,200 Kenyans have beentrainedinChinainshort-termprogrammessuch as finance, education, agriculture and hydro power,

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“

Guangyuan spoke on the inherent right of every child to attend a decent school and receive quality education. “It is often said that knowledge is power, but I don’t fully agree with that notion — knowledge is power only when utilised. We believe that knowledge is a tool and not a trophy to be kept on a display unit in the living room or office. These young boys and girls need to be fully equipped with knowledge today and tomorrow so that we are sure the future of this beautiful nation is built on solid, sound individuals”.

Over and above this, China has two Confucius Institutes at the University of Nairobi and Kenyatta University. Many Kenyan students are on Chinese Government scholarships.

“The Chinese Embassy is going to work harder to get more scholar-

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ABOLITION OF SLAVERY ships for Kenya in the future and I hope some of the students present will get chances to study in China.

A Chinese language teaching team of five volunteers from China has been teaching in Kenya. In this year, more than 1,200 Kenyans have been trained in China in short-term programmes such as finance, education, agriculture and hydro power,” he said.

Looking back, the envoy lauded the cooperation between China and Kenya as having yielded fruitful achievements in the past 47 years.

“In the area of road building, China Roads & Bridges Corporation is involved in construction of the Nairobi North and East Bypasses funded by the Chinese Government.”

In the field of health, the envoy hailed his government for sending batches of anti-malaria medicine to the Kenyan Government. China has established a malaria prevention and treatment centre in the Kenyatta Hospital Grounds. They are also putting up a hospital with 112 beds in Kayole due for completion within this year.

In energy exploration, the Chinese Government has implemented a project for drilling 26 steam production wells at Olkaria Geothermal Power Station and two projects for constructing power transmission lines and substations through Chinese concessional loans. This

Over and above this, China has two Confucius Institutes at the University of Nairobi and Kenyatta University.

Many Kenyan students are on Chinese Government scholarships

is to complement Kenya’s efforts in exploitation of environmentally friendly energy sources such as geothermal, wind and solar. Ambassador Guangyuan continued, “We are delighted to see that our two countries have established a long-term stable and mutually-beneficial relationship, featured with close contacts and friendly exchanges at all levels as well as fruitful cooperation.

For instance, the annual value of bilateral trade has been over US$1 billion. More and more Chinese companies have taken Kenya as a new destination for investment”.

He enthused that with efforts from the two sides, the relationship will grow faster and deeper, bringing more benefits to the people of both countries.

FASCINATING

He commended the Kenyan government on its ambitious plan to become a middle-income country by the year 2030, terming it a fascinating process. “We all see with appreciation that the Kenyan Government and people are working very hard to fulfil the goal set in the plan of Vision 2030. Each one of you is a major player and China stands with you all the way. We are happy to share our developing experiences with our Kenyan friends and provide support”.

The soft-spoken envoy told DEA: “Kenya is a great country, bestowed with beautiful landscape, rich history, intelligent people, and a big potential for development. China regards Kenya as a good friend and an important partner and will work hand-in-hand with the Kenyan Government and people to strengthen our cooperation in all sectors. We are fully committed to uphold and further advance the long-term stable and mutually beneficial relations with Kenya for win-win progress”

December 2, The International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, has been adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations convention for the prevention of the human trafficking and of the exploitation of human beings.

Slave trade is among one of the biggest human tragedies that affected the highest number of people for the longest span of time in history. Today it exists in the new forms of immense violations of the human rights proclaimed by the United Nations in 1948 (forced labour, child labour and prostitution) in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Kenya has been identified as a source, destination and a transit point for trafficked persons, a new form of modern slavery. Case in fact, recently Kenya’s security forces arrested 89 Ethiopians in a hideout in Dagoretti on the outskirts of Nairobi. In most of these cases they (slaves) are subjected to extremely harsh conditions once they reach their destinations.

Mid this year, several cases were reported of Kenyans in Saudi Arabia alleging abuse by their employers.

These cases have been seen as death trap instead of a gold mine for people seeking greener pastures.

UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon said, ‘On this International Day, I urge all States to ratify and implement the relevant legal instruments, and to cooperate fully with the UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery. I also appeal to all UN Member States to contribute generously to the UN Voluntary Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery, which has helped thousands of victims to recover their lives and dignity.”

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•ECONOMY

Investment•Technology•Prosperity

TRAILBLAZER

ICT Icon: The Power of Technology to Transform Lives The continent’s hope is beyond measure — AKWAH MENSAH, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa

By WANJOHI KABUKURU

I

t all began in the Ashanti region, Kumasi, in 1957. Little did the little girl know that she would one day effect major policy changes influencing information, communications, science and technology decisions all across Africa and not just in her home country of Ghana.

The little girl is today the go-getter Aidah Opoku-Mensah. Her name is well known within the corridors of governments, civil society and academia across the continent. It has been a long journey for this former BBC Africa Service journalist, today the Director of the Information Communications Science and Technology Division (ICSTD) at the Addis Abababased United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).

“I spent some of my childhood in Ghana and in the UK. I undertook my primary and secondary education in the UK, then returned to Ghana to complete my secondary schooling. I lived in London after university. For many years I worked in London as a freelance journalist for the BBC Africa Service,” says Aidah. Like most UN bureaucrats Aidah is multilingual. Interestingly, she speaks the ‘language of East Africa’ — Swahili. Her Swahili is fluent and devoid of an accent. On any day she would pass as a mwenyeji (local) in any East African country. How did she manage? “While in university I studied linguistics at the University of Ghana and did Swahili

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proficiency. Then I spent a year at the University of Dar es Salaam, where I did my Swahili language proficiency programme at the Taasisi ya Kiswahili (Institute of Kiswahili).” She tells me this in perfect Swahili. congress

I first met Aidah in 2004 at Rhodes University in South Africa’s historic town of Grahamstown, in the Eastern Cape Province. We were both attending the Highway Africa Conference, an annual congress of African journalists, who mingle for an entire week with new media scholars, communications academics and ICT industry mandarins to exchange notes on the latest developments in science and technology and their ripple effect on Africa’s newsrooms, general development and the fast-changing face of the continent’s journalism outlook.

How comes a lady has found herself

December - January 2011

AKWAH MENSAH, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa

at the apex of one of the continent’s most male-dominated fields? Aidah’s rise has been a long journey of selfsacrifice, strategic choices and an in-born belief that Africa is the next frontier of development.

“I worked in the development field for a pretty long time. For some years I was at the Panos Institute, southern African regional office, as director for southern Africa and helped set up the eastern and southern Africa office in Lusaka, Zambia,” she says.

She later worked for the Ford Foundation. The lessons she picked up while working in these two development agencies were all about the interface of technology’s role in development.

“When I worked in development I was always struck by the power of technology and its ability to transform lives. I knew technology and proper information were the keys that would transform Africa and drive her development agenda. I have a Masters in Communications Quality and this is a subject I keenly studied and internalised so as to make it applicable for Africa,” says she.

She adds: “The ICT revolution and how it was transforming lives is a subject that I keenly studied. While pursuing my studies, I reckoned ICTs were a mandatory empowerment tool for Africa’s development. There were no two ways about it.”

In 2001 she joined the UNECA, a critical UN economic policy think

•ECONOMY

Investment•Technology•Prosperity

tank. “How did you manage to bring politicians, media and civil society together to agree to help the continent embrace ICTs and lobby Africa to put in place ICT-friendly policies?”

I ask.

Though the continent is considered a ‘digital desert’ owing to the low penetration of the Internet and its subsequent monopolistic control by the West, Aidah has been at the forefront of Africa’s claim for Internet control and its subsequent spinoffs of the info-knowledge societies.

At the Geneva 2003 and Tunis 2005 World Summit for the Information Society (WSIS) Aidah was at the nerve centre of Africa’s participation in these two critical global summits.

“At the beginning it wasn’t easy bringing everyone on board. Right from the moment when African governments through then African Union gave us the mandate to spearhead AISI we knew of the tough task ahead, but we were not scared. We implemented AISI and ensured not a single stakeholder was left behind.

Today Africa is the fastest-growing market for mobile phones,” she says with a smile.

E-COMMERCE

Indeed, the vogue issues of elearning, e-government, e-banking, e-health, e-commerce, and e-environment, which are no longer alien in Africa, all have Aidah’s fingerprints.

African countries requested UNECA to develop a framework for the information society in 1996. “African governments knew ICTs would have an impact on their economies and wanted to fully understand and grasp it. UNECA formed a high level panel of African ICT experts who came up with the African Information Society Initiative (AISI) Action Framework. You need stakeholders for the information society who include academia, parliamentarians, civil society, media and even the private sector. But to make them come in sync we brought in the media because we

know the media are key and closer to communities,” Aidah says. So how did UNECA rope in all these players?

“We built programmes around media, academia, civil society and specialist groups and parliamentarians.

Actually parliamentarians have been ignored for a long time, yet they are keys to policy implementation and formulation as they pass the necessary laws. That is how we brought them in and incorporated them,” she explains.

Though many African government civil servants are largely looked down upon Aidah, has a lot of respect for them and the role they have played in opening up the continent for the ICT revolution.

“For this change to happen as rapidly as it has in the continent, we must give credit to the African governments who realised that they needed requisite policies to buttress their economic agendas and make use of ICTs in leapfrogging their economies. The democratic dispensation throughout the continent and a highly educated civil service percolating most African governments has helped greatly in allowing the phenomenal growth of ICTs in the continent,” she says.

Aidah, who has travelled extensively across the globe, is now working to demystify science and technology and the jargon associated with the subject by mainstreaming it to the development needs of the continent.

“To fully grasp the effect of science and technology and the ICT revolution one needs to look at it not from a scientific point of view but as a development concern for Africa. Africa’s sustainability in ICT will depend to a large extent on sound policies. We will have to anchor our development and digital soundness on how they transform lives for the better.

Owing to her experience, Aidah has her finger on the pulse of the continent: “Africa is busy neglecting solving its problems scientifically and even politically. As a result, we end up borrowing heavily and becom-

ing largely depended on aid at the expense of home-grown solutions.

We need a paradigm shift on this approach. It is in Africa’s best interest to invest in science and technology.”

UNDERSTAND

African countries requested UNECA to develop a framework for the information society in 1996. “African governments knew ICTs would have an

impact on their economies and wanted to fully understand and grasp it

With such a glowing revelation and ability to translate science for the common folks in the far- flung hamlets of Africa, it is easier to understand why Aidah has not only made a mark in the continent but has been able to win the respect and admiration of many across the globe, in her quest to popularise the ‘knowledge societies’.

“It is interesting that in all the places that I have been to all I have seen and experienced is nothing but hope. Africa’s hope is beyond measure. When you visit the village markets, see women’s groups, talk to the youth, the message you get is that of strong resilience devoid of despair.

It is this hope that African governments need to cash in and harness,” she reveals of her interaction with the continent.

Does she have special memories?

“Yes I do”, she mutters as she stares wistfully the Nairobi sky. “The day my eldest son graduated from college. That moment was so fulfilling and I cherish it.”

Low moments in life?

“Losing my mother. The pillar of my life, she gave me character and taught me the values of standing up for what I believe in. I remember when I got the news I was in Malaysia attending the Global Knowledge Partnership (GK3) meeting. I miss her and I am grateful for the good she gave me.”

Hobbies? “Reading….Oh yes. I am a voracious reader, walking and soft Afro music.”

So what is your secret? “By being myself but, most of all, my strongest attribute is that I am passionate about my work.” 

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NOVEL COVER

Islamic Insurance Enters Kenyan Market

I

Compliant Regulatory Authority licenses first sharia’h company, brimming with optimism and ushering in a new chapter for the sector, reports JANE MWANGI

nsurance coverage in Africa is extremely low, with Kenya recording a paltry 2.6 per cent. The insurance sector is beleaguered with myriad problems, the worst of which is its inaccessibility to the majority of the people. Its poor penetration can be attributed to suspicion, lack of awareness and apathy.

Poor claim settlement also holds back insurance companies, with many unresolved cases. It is safe to say that Kenyans do not understand the “insurance language”. Takaful insurance promises to fill this gap.

Takaful Insurance is a KSh2 billion worldwide investment that has been in existence for close to 1,400 years.

With it is an opportunity, beckoning for Kenya to become the regional hub for Islamic banking. “The launch of Takaful in Kenya means that businesses and assets worth billions of shillings that could not avail financial protection due to reasons of faith will be able to do so now,” says the Chairman of GulfCap Investments, Suleiman Shahbal, speaking during the launch of the Takaful Insurance Scheme at the Intercontinental Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya, in October.

This insurance scheme will offer general insurance cover as per the license offered by the IRA, with the operations set to roll out in the next four months.

“As a company, our forecast for this market is very positive. When we take into consideration the positive reception Islamic finance got from

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both Muslims and non-Muslims, it is a clear indication that there was an unexplored gap that urgently needed addressing. The gap [to close] is that of ethical and socially responsible financing,” Shahbal explains.

GulfCap Investments LLC is a United Arab Emirates-based investment firm. GulfCap is the promoting shareholder of Gulf African Bank Limited. The company is in the advanced stages of launching full-scale East African operations to focus on private equity, financial services, a real estate fund and corporate finance.

The concept of Takaful insurance is still very unfamiliar to most people.

It is a corporate insurance scheme in which policyholders contribute to a fund. It is also sharia’h-compliant and policy owners receive most of the surplus as opposed to conventional insurance where the company owns the premium.

INSURANCE

The policyholders own the fund and are therefore entitled to its profits and surplus, hence acting as both the insured and the insurer. The profit directly benefits the shareholders as the insurance company does not have the right to claim or take underwriting surplus as its profit. The legality over insurance has been debated over the years until 1976, when consensus was reached at the First International Conference on Islamic Economics in Makkah. The Fiqh Council of the Muslim World League ruled in favour of “cooperative insur-

December - January 2011

Over and above this, China has two Confucius Institutes at the University of Nairobi and Kenyatta University.

Many Kenyan students are on Chinese Government scholarships

ance”, whereby members establish a joint fund to which every one of them contributes. The purpose of the fund is to compensate any one of them against losses.

According to Najmul Hassan, Gulf African Bank CEO, “There is a huge need for us to convert ourselves and therefore we are starting with insurance. The reason the world has gone through a financial tsunami is because the many conventional insurance companies went into speculative investments, hence leading to their downfall.”

Hassan says as Islamic banking continues to grow at a rapid rate it will expand out of Kenya and into other countries. With the passage of time the knowledge of this type of insurance will be widespread.

Abdallah Salim, CEO of AMS Insurance Company Ltd., says, “Many Muslims shied away from insurance due to their faith-based beliefs against riba (interest) and excessive uncertainty. It is therefore exciting for us to offer this innovative product to our clients — both Muslims and nonMuslims.”

Its venture into the market is aimed at maintaining Kenya’s lead in promoting Islamic finance in subSaharan Africa.

Gulf African Insurance Company Limited will be registered as an insurer under the Insurance Act, Cap 487. It is envisaged that the company will have wide Kenyan shareholding along with international strategic investors

•INDUSTRY NEWS Products & Services INNOVATION CUTTING EDGE

iWay Africa: Continent’s Path To Broadband Connectivity Multi-award winning satellite company exemplifies the growing list of success stories to emerge from the mainland in recent times. DEA’s JANE MWANGI spoke to General Manager JOB NDEGE on the industry and the future of satellite with the emergence of undersea cables

D

IPLOMAT EAST AFRICA: iWay Africa is the leading Pan-African provider of converged ICT offerings and has an impressive list of accolades. Take us through some of these unique triumphs.

JOB NDEGE: iWay Africa demonstrates genuine Pan-African vision and ability. Started in 1992, iWay Africa is an amalgamation of Africa Online, Afsat and the MWEB Africa group of companies, offering services in sub-Saharan Africa.

In 2008-10, we won the VSAT Operator of the Year Award — awarded every year at the Satcom Stars Awards held in Johannesburg, South Africa, to recognise companies within the satellite industry that continue to grow satellite-enabled communication services in Africa. Others include the Intelsat Award for Excellence in corporate networks in 2008 in recognition of supplying critical applications for development in Africa. The WCA Best Operator in a Developing Market awarded in London during the 2007 World Communication Awards in recognition of the Company’s fast growth of its market share and operations in Africa, in addition to the 2010 Satcom Stars Award for the Best Skills Developer in Satellite Communications for Africa.

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Q: The Company’s stability and escalating growth over the years has been nothing short of spectacular. Kindly take us through the journey...

December - January 2011

JOB NDEGE: General Manager

A: The idea of setting up iWay Africa was birthed in Kenya with an initial vision of providing communication solutions within East Africa. This was, however, extend-

•INDUSTRY NEWS Products & Services

ed to cover the larger sub-Saharan African region. This required a huge capital outlay for building the necessary infrastructure, and through the founders and support from Hughes (one of the benefactors of VSAT) the Company was equipped to deliver broadband from Cairo to Cape Town any time and at any speed.

A: The Company has 32 African countries under its wing and identifies over 40 partners.

This has piloted our journey into the broadband revolution with over 7,000 VSAT sites serving over 60,000 customers. iWay Africa is headquartered in Mauritius and has subsidiaries in Nigeria, Zambia, Tanzania, Uganda, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Swaziland and Kenya. We are powered by 11 hubs, some of which are in the UK, Germany, USA and South Africa. These hubs utilise satellite capacity, an investment that runs in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Kenya is the overall network operations centre. iWay Africa is basically the biggest and the best in Africa. With the largest footprint in Africa, we offer economies of scale to our customers providing efficient solutions and on-the- ground support. We are committed to investing in Africa to provide communication. So far we have invested over $100 million worth of infrastructure to enable competitive service provision. We will meet connectivity requirements using a blend of technologies — MPLS, fibre, satellite and wireless.

Q: With the arrival of undersea fibre-optic cables are we likely to see the overhaul of satellite?

A: We use a blend of technologies — MPLS, fibre, satellite and wireless. Satellite encompasses the backhaul, backbone and lastmile access enabling even home

A: iWay Africa clients include over 70,000 satisfied corporate customers across Africa. iWay Africa currently provides iWay broadband, packaged as a fast, reliable and cost-effective Internet access product. The second is iWay corporate networks that are an intracorporate quality solution. Even in remote parts of the country where electricity is non-existent, iWay uses alternative sources of energy. iWay Africa’s key differentiators are technical expertise, customer support and service delivery, all of which are consistently scored very highly by our customers as per the annual customer satisfaction survey results. Our key resource is our people, who undergo continuous training with key suppliers of equipment and professional organisations to ensure that we have the most knowledgeable, innovative, committed and customer service -oriented employees in the telecommunications sector.

customers to connect to the backhaul with no points of failure.

The ubiquitous nature of satellite enables it to serve any area; compared to Fibre to the Home (FTTH), satellite is easy to deploy as no digging is required. We see VSAT having its own place and fibre its own place as well. VSAT is unique due to its reliability and anywhere phenomena, therefore anyone looking to have a business that relies on IP cannot turn away from VSAT. Q: You pride yourself with having record breaking Internet broadband and bottleneck-free Internet. How can you substantiate this fact?

A: Our service is designed in such a way that the client gets consistent broadband speeds. Afsat has the largest satellite broadband in Africa. We were the first company to offer Internet broadband in Africa — with the exception of South Africa — as well as being the first to offer wireless Internet. We offer fast, secure, reliable and cost-effective service that is consistent, whether one is accessing it from Nairobi or Daadab.

The iWay Africa way of providing a solution is such that we listen to your needs and requirements and come up with a tailor-made solution for your company. If you offer value for money to the customer, you will always stay ahead of the competition.

Q: The provision of corporate Internet broadband is the Company’s core business. Take us through some of your unique products and services?

The Company has 32 African countries under its wing and identifies over 40 partners. This has piloted our journey into the broadband revolution with over 7,000 VSAT sites

serving

over

60,000

customers

Q: Owing to the recent acquisition of iWay Africa by Telkom South Africa, what does this hold for the Company?

A: iWay Africa is part of the Telkom Group of Companies (TKG), a Telkom South Africa Company. TKG is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and is a Forbes Top 2000 Company.

Telkom has been pioneering solutions on the African continent, supporting businesses and communities within Africa. In 2008, MWEB Africa acquired Afsat. Then in 2009, Telkom South Africa took over, we are now in the process of integration. Once the acquisition is complete, the single brand name will remain iWay Africa.

Over and above that we are looking to revamp our products and I can proudly say that we can only get better

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•GLOBAL STAGE Window on World

POLITICAL TIGHTROPE

Obama after the Shellacking If between now and election time in 2012 he can enthuse his base, and perform a few tricks to confound his opponents, he should squeak through a second term, especially if the Republicans field Sarah Palin, a virtual walkover-in-the-making, reckons JOHN MULAA in Washington DC

A

fter the shellacking the Democrats suffered in the recent midterm elections, wags, pundits and futurists were all atwitter about United States President Barack Obama’s political fate come 2012, when he will have to face an increasingly agitated American electorate to ask them for a second term. Many on the right, and even some on the left, describe Obama’s position as precarious if not outright grim. How right are they?

President Obama was elected on a wave of hope and high expectations. His soaring rhetoric and campaign promises raised both to stratospheric levels, especially in the light of the American economy that had all but cratered when the campaign entered its final stretch.

Obama tried to inject patience and realism into his Inauguration Address, the most eloquent since John F. Kennedy’s in 1961. He told Americans in general and his supporters in particular that the slog ahead

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would be just that — a hard, slow and difficult march to recovery.

Obama was also elected on a platform of fundamental change in the way America conducted business in some aspects, notably healthcare and regulation of the financial sector seen as the miscreant that triggered the greatest economic meltdown the country had witnessed since the Great Depression.For a

December-January 2011

while it looked as if the goals Obama and his party had set for themselves were too Herculean and they would not be effected because of vested interests and the political risk associated with the carrying them out.

Take healthcare; the long contentious debate over the overhaul of a sector that gobbles up tremendous amounts of American resources looked as if it would sink any reform

•GLOBAL STAGE Window on World efforts. Powerful stakes went to work, stirring up vocal and raucous opposition to the proposed reform measures. The Tea Party sprung up out of nowhere, with a singular message that the proposed reforms spelled the end of America as they knew it. Opponents of reform cast the matter as a contest between big and small government and claimed the latter was the American way.

HEALTHCARE

The dinning of this message had an impact. As negotiations went on behind closed doors to hammer out a healthcare reform package that would attract sufficient support, and with Obama more or less silent waiting for the meat grinder to work its way, opponents seized the initiative. They went to town, literally, with catchy wild allegations that were effective in souring the mood of many American people who would be the natural allies of healthcare reform.

Cries of death panels and more rent the air. Then came the irony of the Massachusetts Senate election in which Scott Brown, a Republican opposed to healthcare reform, was elected to a seat formerly occupied by the late Senator Edward Kennedy, the father of healthcare reform.

Republicans, Tea partiers and the like were elated at the failure of Democrats to recapture a “safe” seat and read into the outcome a death knell for healthcare reform, since the Brown victory denied the Democratic Party a majority it needed to pass the measure in the senate.

The Washington Post headline of that day announced Brown’s victory with a sub-headline suggesting that healthcare reform was in grave danger.

“It was like puncturing a balloon”, a Republican friend exalted after the outcome. “You could feel the air rushing out.” Democrats were deflated too and some of them began pointing fingers at the president for stretching out the process and not explaining the merits of the reform well to the public.

President Obama, in a deft and forceful move, used a parliamentary manoeuvre to pass the healthcare bill to cries of foul by the Republicans, who believed they had placed the president in a corner. The incoming Speaker of the House of Representatives, John Boehner, then the head of a much smaller contingent of Republican representatives in the House famously shouted “Hell No” when the measure was enacted.

Soon that changed to “repeal”.

Obama and the Democrats quickly followed the healthcare measure with tighter financial sector regulations, designed to rein in the sector that is blamed for most of the current American woes, and threw in tighter consumer protection measures. By which time, the right was apoplectic. They began to talk about Obama’s “hidden and nefarious” motive for the measures that had become law.

GINGRICH

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, channelling Dinesh D’souza, a right-wing provocateur with outlandish ideas on race and the like, ascribed Obama’s reform agenda to Obama’s anti-colonial genes inherited from his father.

There were urgent cries about “taking the country back”, a slogan with sinister implications that somehow the president is an alien who invaded and took over the American body politic.

Religion, too, was injected in the mix. Obama, his diehard opponents claimed, was a secret Muslim. No, said others, the fellow is actually the anti-Christ. That is how crazy and heated the talk became.

Overhanging the cacophony was the matter of a tottering, if recovering, economy that was not creating jobs fast enough to make a dent on the unemployment rate.

Obama and the Democrats painted a picture of an economy on a slow mend; Republicans struck with the storyline that the economy was increasingly worsening and Obama’s

policies were not helping.

It was time to hit the campaign trail leading to the mid-term elections. Obama traversed the country selling his reforms and vision. His narrative included chiding Republicans for being the authors of the mess he inherited. He asked Americans not to allow them back into the driver’s seat because the policies they proposed were bound to exacerbate rather than help fix the country’s problems. frustrated

How effective the president was is hard to tell. In the event Obama’s party suffered a historic shellacking that reportedly left the president surprised, frustrated and disappointed. However, Obama being who he is, a man who rarely lets his emotions show, maintained an eerie outward calm that only further infuriated his triumphant opponents, who added the charge of elitism and being out of touch with the ordinary American to the long list of his “defects”. The Republican Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell was blunt. He announced that his party’s chief goal is to deny Obama a second term. Forget the economy and everything else the Republicans and allied groups had campaigned on. Obama must go come 2012 is the in slogan among Republicans.

What are the prospects of Republicans achieving their goal? It is too early to tell but, in truth, their prospects are not bad. The key to accomplishment of their goal would be a lethargic left that refuses to turn out in large numbers to support the president. If between now and election time in 2012 President Obama can do something to enthuse his base and perform a few tricks to confound his opponents, he should squeak through a second term. Partly that will depend on who the Republicans will field to oppose him.

It could be Sarah Palin. Obama and his supporters are probably praying that it is. They could well have a ball, in a manner of speaking

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•GLOBAL STAGE Window on World

Diplomatic Debacle of the Decade The 1979 Iranian epithet about a US embassy being ‘a nest of spies’ has returned to haunt American foreign policy perceptions, with far-reaching implications for international relations. The US will require a worldwide PR and diplomatic reboot to repair its image, argues DEA Consulting Editor MATT GATHIGIRA

T

he first decade of the 21st Century has ended with a bang heard right around the world.

And it is the sound not of explosives or implosives, but of the biggest single spillage of beans in history, turning the diplomatic community worldwide on its head.

Its reverberations will resonate throughout this century’s teens.

The world of diplomatic communications will never be the same again. Neither will some paradigms of investigative journalism.

For instance, in one of the most collaborative moves in news gathering and dissemination, five large news organisations joined hands across the Atlantic and worked together to plan the timing of their reports of the leaks.

The whistleblower website WikiLeaks capped the decade by leaking a quarter-of-a-million secret diplomatic cables from US missions around the world, including the eastern Africa region.

This came barely six months after WikiLeaks released tens of thousands of secret logs from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan earlier this year.

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December - January 2011

And the latest mega leak, promptly dubbed Cable-gate by world media, blew the lid off a world of secrecy in which, according to one BBC interviewee, 16 million documents are classified as secret annually, handled by 850,000 individuals who have Top Secret clearance in an enterprise that costs US$100 billion. Keeping secrets secret is a growth industry on its own.

LOGS & CABLES

Barely a year ago, much of the world had never given any thought to these tools of trade of the US military and diplomatic cultures.

Now, thanks to WikiLeaks and its maverick founder/editor, the Australian Julian Paul Assange, the world has access to more than a million pages of these paraphernalia of power, patronage and privilege.

The cables targeted both US friend and foe and were clearly never intended by their authors to be for public consumption even in the US, much less the rest of the world, in their lifetimes or indeed that of anyone else now alive and who has attained the years of discretion. The leak detonated a diplomatic crisis of global proportions.

The cables astonished even the much-jaded intelligence community throughout the world. The secretive worlds of diplomacy and espionage, whose rule of thumb is encapsulated in the pious phrase “on a need-to-know basis”, collided head-on with the open source realm of the “want-to-know” basis, the world of journalism and its many publics’ huge appetite for information.

Suddenly, the whole world wanted to know who this tall Australian man with a strange name is and what makes him tick. Kenyans and Tanzanians were intrigued to

•GLOBAL STAGE Window on World learn that Assange had not only resided in their countries on and off since 2005, but was also instrumental in blowing the whistle on extra-judicial killings in Kenya.

Spymasters everywhere, like their bosses the heads of state and, or government, were absolutely gobsmacked by some of the revelations. President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and his spy chiefs must be scratching their heads hairless around the clock, pondering why US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave the bizarre order, in writing and under her own authority and signature, that secret agents obtain his DNA, fingerprints and frequent-flier habits.

President Kagame’s most substantive predecessor, the late Juvenal Habyarimana and his Burundian counterpart, died in a plane crash in 1994, the event that detonated the Rwanda Genocide.

Clinton’s intentions remain unclear, but her leaked memo to the CIA and other US intelligence gatherers and evaluators must be making Kagame and his handlers extremely wary, to say the least.

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia will likely never confide in an American official again, after it was revealed that he refers to Iran as a snake that needs its head cutting off, meaning the bombing by the US of Tehran’s nuclear programme before it develops a weapon.

WHAT’s IN A BLACK BOX?

As for President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga of Kenya, the US envoys in the Nairobi mission think of them as little more than the gatekeepers to a swamp of corruption and also as having thrived on impunity. It also emerged that Kibaki’s famed inner circle are referred to as “The Black Box” by Ambassador Michael Ranneberger, his officers and his handlers in Washington.

Kenyan intelligence analysts were reportedly mulling this one over all week, wondering whether it’s a reference to the aviation equipment that records information about the performance of an aircraft during flight.

If so, this constituted yet another mysterious aviation reference to a key African leader’s entourage. The public never hears of black boxes until an air crash that is almost invariably fatal has taken place. Also known as FDRs (Flight Data Recorders), black boxes help determine the causes of air crashes.

The plot thickens, for, according to the website searchsoftwarequality.techtarget.com, the term ‘black box’ can also mean “any device, sometimes highly important, whose workings are not understood by or accessible to its user”. Would Kibaki associate with an inner circle whose workings are inscrutable to him?

A third definition of ‘black box’ is contained in the American Heritage Dictionary and it speaks of “A device or theoretical construct with known or specified performance characteristics but unknown or unspecified constituents and means”.

The Americans were most likely referring to the perceived opacity of the Kibaki inner circle (perceived, that is, by Washington), a group that has swung Kenya East towards China, including in the procurement of secure telecommunications equipment, a fact the cables complained loudly about.

According to Wikipedia, “Almost anything might be referred to as a black box: a transistor, an algorithm, or the human mind”.

Wikipedia adds, “The opposite of a black box is a system where the inner components or logic are available for inspection, which is sometimes known as a white box, a glass box, or a clear box”.

If spying on a planetary scale — and being obtuse, snide and smug about it, albeit far behind closed doors — is one of the key job descriptions of a lone superpower, then the US foreign policy establishment and the spying methods they employ are indeed discharging their mandates, on the copious evidence of Cable-gate. But the rest of the world, both friend and foe, is not amused.

NEST OF SPIES

A third definition of ‘black box’ is contained in the American Heritage Dictionary and it speaks of

“A device or theoretical construct with known or specified performance characteristics but unknown or unspecified constituents and means”

What’s more, even though Iran emerges from the cables looking like one of history’s most isolated and feared nations, it is to Iran that the world will turn when it comes to typifying and redefining what constitutes an American embassy.

After all, it was the Iranians who, back in 1979 when they invaded the place and seized hostages, memorably described the US embassy in Tehran as “a nest of spies”. Nothing sounded so farfetched than that at the time, but, 32 years down the road, Cablegate is getting people thinking twice right around the world.

Brand America has just taken a hit that will require vast resources of damage control and reputation management international public relations, to say nothing of the most consummate restorative diplomacy.

Some of those pilloried in the cables have sought to downplay their negative impacts. Upon his return from the climate change conference in Cancun, Mexico, Prime Minister Odinga dismissed the cables as mere “gossip between American diplomats and their masters in Washington”.

This is surely the understatement of the decade. Reporting the PM’s remarks, Kenya’s Nation Media Group NTV channel spoke of the “alleged” cables. But as Cable-gate reverberated worldwide,

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•GLOBAL STAGE Window on World

“

The long-time intelligence insider with multiple Capitol Hill sources told TomFlocco. com that convicted GOP lobbyist Jack Abramoff

operated the sex/spy ring at the Watergate, Ritz-Carlton and Sheraton hotels in Washington, DC

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with choice morsels being doled out for every nation on earth (except Israel), by the five newspapers WikiLeaks first gave the full batch of cables to — the Guardian of Britain, Germany’s Der Spiegel, France’s Le Monde, El Pais in Spain and the New York Times — it became all-too-clear that the leaked communications were incontrovertibly the real thing.

Meanwhile, Assange was behind bars in Britain on account of a number of sex crime charges brought against him by two women in Sweden. When the charges first surfaced in August, they were soon dismissed by a chief prosecutor in the Swedish capital and withdrawn by the women themselves.

But the accusers later moved to another town and obtained the services of another prosecutor, reportedly at the behest of a Swedish right-wing politician who has expressed his disdain for WikiLeaks and all it stands for.

Veteran British campaign journalist John Pilger denounced Assange’s detention, saying he saw politics written all over it. What’s more, Pilger warned that if Assange were extradited to Sweden he would assuredly be forwarded to America, where the power elite are seething with a gargantuan fury against his activities and their impact on America’s image.

The claim has been floated in America and elsewhere, particularly by Clinton and a number of White House spokespersons, that Assange and WikiLeaks are putting lives at risk with their massive disclosures.

But it has been dismissed as a canard in many quarters, particularly as regards materials like the military logs and the video footage of a helicopter gunship killing 18 people in an Iraqi city, including two Reuters journalists,

December-January 2011

released in April. The footage was shot by cameras mounted on the chopper. WikiLeaks has left a lot of egg on many VIP faces around the world but no fatality has been attributed to its activities, yet. Instead, it exposes actual fatalities, the circumstances of which had been actively hidden from the world.

CONSPIRACY CONNOISSEURS

Perhaps least impressed by the mega spillage were connoisseurs of conspiracy sites on the Internet, or basically anyone who spends some serious time online, who know that much more damaging information about American foreign policy, domestic policy, organised crime, deeply flawed wars on drugs and terror, money laundering and gunrunning is readily available for the discerning researcher.

Anyone familiar with the works of conspiracy theory researchers and publishers like Michael Collins Piper, the late Mary Ferrell and her Mary Ferrell Foundation and Laura Knight-Jadczyk, all of whom have specialised on researching the assassination in November 1963 of US President John F. Kennedy, knows much worse about the US system than anything WikiLeaks has so far released or is likely to. Ditto the 9/11 Truth Movement, who are calling for a renewed and much more robust, conscientious and transparent investigations of the terror attacks on America.

The blogger Tom Flocco’s take on the American establishment on the conspiracy theory website http://tomflocco.com/, for instance in the wake of the congressional page boys sex scandal of a couple of years ago is another example of just how mild Assange’s and WikiLeaks’s revelations are.

Here is how Flocco introduced

his analysis of the Jack Abramoff scandal that rocked Washington as recently as 2006: “A retired intelligence agency official corroborated the revelations of a national security expert that male and female heterosexuals, homosexuals, lesbians, bisexuals and underage children provided sexual services to numerous congressmen, senators, national media hosts, top military officers and other federal officials who were compromised and made susceptible to blackmail at three Washington, DC hotels since 2000.

“The long-time intelligence insider with multiple Capitol Hill sources told TomFlocco.com that convicted GOP lobbyist Jack Abramoff operated the sex/spy ring at the Watergate, Ritz-Carlton and Sheraton hotels in Washington, DC. ‘The whole Republican Party was for sale—the House, Senate and the White House’, said the well-respected federal insider with impeccable and historic intelligence credentials who declined to be named at this time but who is familiar with testimony and sources close to a grand jury probing the GOP lobbyist’s sale of sex in return for legislative influence over taxpayer dollars”.

The fundamental difference between the Julian Assanges and the Tom Floccos of this world — and the real reason why WikiLeaks is so reviled by official Washington and its allies, who basically just ignore the Floccos — is that Assange’s information and proof are all harvested straight from the horse’s mouth, as it were.

Cable-gate is so embarrassing precisely because it was obtained at source, mostly unedited, unexpurgated, the truth in the raw. Assange is not a conspiracy theorist, CONTINUED IN PAGE 81

•DEA BOOKS

The Bank That Gave Kenyans a Savings Culture At 100-years-old, Postbank is resurgent in the age of digital and enters its second century with confidence BOOK: The Postbank Story: A Century of Wealth Creation through Savings, 82pp AUTHORS: By Postbank Centenary Celebrations Committee

I

PUBLISHERS: Global Village Publishers, 2010

n his foreword to this historical and insightful publication about the Kenya Post Office Savings Bank, trading as Postbank, on the occasion of its 100th anniversary celebrated in late November, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta hit the nail squarely on the head when he observed that this is the one institution whose advent marked the formal monetization of the Kenyan economy.

The fact has now been forgotten in the mists of history that, by 1910, when the Savings Bank was established, there were a handful of financial institutions operating in the then Protectorate but their penetration was severely limited. By early 1911, there were 1,231 accounts, out of which 684 were held by Africans.

By 1922 savings services were widespread in 22 post offices.

Postbank’s role in the story of the modernisation of Kenya was pivotal.

For many decades, the Post Office and its Savings Bank were some of the bedrock institutions of the Protectorate, the Colony and, finally, the Republic.

The Postbank story is important at the end of the first decade of the 21st Century not only because it is a key ingredient of the history of Kenya but also because, as an institution, it has survived and is being re-energised, into the digital era. The Postbank Story: A Century of Wealth Creation through Savings documents the critical stages of financial evolution in the East

POSTBANK STORY

A Century of Wealth Creation through Savings

Africa region. We learn from the book, for instance, that the introduction of indigenous Africans into the financial sector started as early as 1911, just before World War I, the aftermath of which saw the first banked ordinary Kenyans, the veterans of the so-called Great War. The story of Postbank is a saga of financial inclusion and access at the grassroots levels. Over the years the Post Office, with its nationwide network, and other agents took banking to the apparently unbankable. Indeed, it can be said without an iota of exaggeration that Postbank taught ordinary Kenyans how to save. In the government’s ambitious Vision 2030, Postbank is earmarked for repositioning as the premier savings institution in Kenya.

By the time the reader finishes reading Postbank’s amazing story one cannot be blamed for coming away with the distinct impression that providing financial inclusion is Postbank’s middle name.

The sub-heading of this great publication, A Century of Wealth Creation through Savings, is also its

By 1922 savings services were widespread in 22 post offices.

Postbank’s role in the story of the modernisation of Kenya was pivotal

theme. The century that Postbank has been in operation has also seen the evolution of modern Kenya from a largely unexplored country of barely three million to today’s thriving nation of 40 million and vast infrastructural reconstruction.

Postbank has grown with the times, as this well-written and illustrated book attests, with the role of technology now being of the highest significance and underpinning the entire operation.

From the manual passbook to the Home Safe, Postbank’s innovative banking products for each and every era of its existence have been tailor-made for the customer. Today, Postbank account-holders enjoy state-of-the art digitised products and services.

At age 100, Postbank’s strategic alliances and business partnerships have positioned it in a fearsomely competitive banking environment where technology is king. Postbank has taken the technological advances and the sheer competitiveness of the sector in its long stride and remains the first and only bank in Kenya to implement automated counter teller services. Over the years there were innovative products, for instance 1978’s Premium Bonds; 1981’s Save as You Earn; and 1983’s Fixed-Term Savings.

The Postbank Story: A Century of Wealth Creation through Savings is also the story of the great teams of bankers and their staff who have built this institution for a century. There are great pen portraits, for instance of top bankers such as the legendary first Managing Director, Kenya PO Savings Bank, John Luusa, who came to Potbank from the East African Common Services Postal Finance Department, which he had joined in 1963.

As the current MD, Mrs AS. Nyambura Koigi, notes in her acknowledgements, the story of Postbank is indeed the story of banking in Kenya

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•GLOBAL STAGE Window on World REMEMBERING AN ENIGMA

Andrei Gromyko: Silent but Loyal Envoy Who Defied Time

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‘Dean of World Diplomacy’ had agricultural mechanisation as doctoral thesis but razorsharp memory, rare intelligence and loyalty to the incumbent were his arsenal for over four decades when he served four Soviet leaders and engaged nine US presidents

By DOMINIC ODIPO

t was Winston Churchill who said of Russia in a radio broadcast in October 1939, soon after the start of World War II: “I cannot forecast to you the action of Russia. It is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma; but perhaps there is a key. That key is Russian national interest”.

No individual Soviet public figure personified this description of his nation better than Andrei Andreyevich Gromyko, one of the world’s most resilient diplomats.

When he smiled, most women thought he looked great. The problem was that the man rarely smiled in public, thus depriving millions of women around the world this singular, sensual pleasure.

His side names ranged from “Old Stone Face” to “Grim Grom” to “Mr Nyet (Mr No)”, in reflection of the countless times he had cast the Soviet Union’s veto at the United Nations Security Council meetings in New York. Yet, by the time Gromyko retired from the Soviet Foreign Ministry in 1985, his long experience in international diplomacy had earned him the special title of “Dean of World Diplomacy”.

STALIN

He was only 34 years old when Joseph Stalin, the Soviet dictator, appointed him the USSR ambassador to the United States in 1943. At the time, he had very little of the kind of diplomatic experience that would ordinarily have been required for

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By the time he was eased out of the Soviet Foreign Ministry by Mikhail Gorbachev in 1985, Gromyko had become the world’s

most wellknown and recognisable foreign minister

December - January 2011

this highly sensitive post.

When he arrived in Washington DC in the middle of World War II to take up his post, he was formally received by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who had never heard of him before, even by name.

From this position and, subsequently, as the Soviet Foreign Minister, Gromyko went on to work and interact with eight other American presidents — Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, John Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan.

MOLOTOV

By the time he was eased out of the Soviet Foreign Ministry by Mikhail Gorbachev in 1985, Gromyko had become the world’s most well-known and recognisable foreign minister. At the beginning of 1957, the Soviet Union’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Vyacheslav Molotov, imprudently joined a coterie of old-time Communists opposed to Chairman Nikita Khrushchev’s policies in a botched attempt to depose

him. The attempt failed; Molotov was retired from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Gromyko, then only 47 years old, was appointed to succeed him.

He continued to serve, uninterrupted, as the Soviet Union’s Minister for Foreign affairs for the next 28 years, a record in modern diplomatic history. In this job, he effectively and loyally served four Soviet leaders — Khrushchev, Leonid Brezhnev, Yuri Andropov and Konstantin Chernenko.

Gromyko, a native Belorussian, was born in 1909, eight years before the Russian Revolution of 1917 led by Vladimir Lenin overthrew the Russian Empire of Tsar Nicholas Romanov. He was still too young to register or understand the dynamics or realities of Lenin’s brief but highly revolutionary Communist rule which ended with his death in 1924.

By the end of his teenage tears, Joseph Stalin had already established himself as the supreme and allpowerful leader of the Soviet Union.

His political mindset was therefore heavily influenced by the Stalinist era and by Stalin himself, the man who plucked him from obscurity to make him the Soviet Ambassador to the United States.

Like his latter day American counterparts, George Shultz and Condoleeza Rice, Gromyko held a PhD degree, though he never burdened his name with those initials nor encouraged his friends and col-

•GLOBAL STAGE Window on World CONTINUED FROM PAGE 78

leagues to refer to him as Dr Gromyko. His doctoral thesis, written for the Institute of Economics of the Soviet Academy of Sciences, was on a rather unlikely subject for a future diplomatic career: The mechanisation of agriculture in the United States.

Like many leaders of the Soviet era, Gromyko was, in certain ways, a walking contradiction. Even though he was a loyal, card-carrying member of the Communist Party, the party of the peasants and the working man or the proletariat, he enjoyed and indulged in the sort of special comforts and privileges normally associated with the capitalist West.

He took special pleasure in fine food and fine clothes and his business suits were specially made by Western tailors. And even though he was undoubtedly a very intelligent man, up to his death in 1989, he appears to have found nothing wrong with the Stalinist policies which, in the 1930s and 1940s, directly led to the death of more than 20 million Soviet citizens.

To students of 20th Century diplomatic history, perhaps one question looms largest around the career of Andrei Gromyko: How did he manage to survive and prosper for all of 42 years under a system which could sometimes be so rough, unpredictable and brutal?

The answer seems to lie in three inter-related factors: his raw intelligence and extremely powerful memory; his ability to withhold his views or feelings when everyone else around him was showcasing theirs; and, finally, and probably most important, his absolute loyalty to his leader, whoever that leader happened to be.

As we have mentioned above, Gromyko was an extremely intelligent man. It was this raw intelligence which propelled him from a backwater, peasant background in Belorussia to the Soviet Academy of Sciences, still one of the best places of higher learning in the world today.

To this basic intelligence was then added a prodigious memory which

even the famed Soviet intelligence organs of his day stood in awe of.

One observer who attended a high level negotiating session with Gromyko in the 1970s remarked that during the entire meeting, Gromyko “never took a note, never looked at a folder or turned to his assistant for advice”. The second extremely intimidating and effective weapon that Gromyko wielded through so many years in high office was his silence at critical meetings when everybody else was busy displaying his knowhow and intelligence.

In her memoirs The Downing Street Years, 1979-1990, Mrs Margaret Thatcher, the former British Prime Minister, describes one such meeting in Moscow in 1985 at which Gromyko was present in these words: “I had almost an hour’s talk with Mikhail Gorbachev that evening in St Katherine’s Hall in the Kremlin.

The atmosphere was more formal than at Chequers and the silent, sardonic presence of Mr Gromyko did not help.”

And, lastly, absolute, unquestioning loyalty to whoever his leader happened to be at the time.

Throughout his entire diplomatic career, Gromyko served all the leaders of the Soviet Union of the time with unstinting loyalty. From Stalin to Gorbachev he was never implicated in any secret conspiracies to defeat any of their policies or depose any of them individually. The result was that all of them trusted him and did not consider him a threat to their positions.

If Gromyko does not merit a seminar at the world’s top diplomatic schools or institutes, then no modern foreign affairs minister from any country does. It is said that the most consummate diplomat knows how to bite his tongue in a dozen languages. Perhaps, in honour of his “silent, sardonic” personality, the diplomatic world should collectively remain silent about the work and legacy of Andrei Andreyevich Gromyko

he is a conspiracy practitioner of an order never seen before in history.

As for the calls made in some quarters in the US for Assange’s assassination, they only confirmed the murderous mindset of some sections of America’s political discourse.

The online conspiracy communities fault Assange and his associates on one score — WikiLeaks’s eloquent silence on all matters Israeli. Israel is America’s best — and most disproportionately influential — friend. Many researchers are aghast that WikiLeaks could leak so much on the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan and not stumble upon really interesting material on Israeli activity in both theatres, which a number of well-respected conspiracy sites already has done, with amazing but mostly unverified disclosures.

THE ISRAEL OMISSION

The Arabic website Al-Haqiqa alleges Assange had a meeting in Geneva earlier this year with Israeli officials where a deal was sealed under which all cables concerning Israel would be removed and destroyed by the WikiLeaks boss himself. Assange and WikiLeaks have not addressed this allegation.

But Al Haqiqa alleges that the signing of the deal was captured on video with the consent of all involved. What happens next? The future looks uncertain for WikiLeaks in its present form, what with the cyber warfare and the give-a-dog-a-bad name attacks that it and Assange have had to endure, including being evicted by bankers and servers.

The massive pressures being brought to bear on WikiLeaks will almost certainly end in tears for those who are applying them most zealously, particularly members of the Obama Administration.

Two things are almost certain — there will be an overhaul of the State Department and there will be congressional probes on many aspects of this almighty mess.

The Columbia Journalism Review, quoting Joshua Benton, director of the Nieman Journalism Lab, reckons that although WikiLeak's future looks uncertain, it has opened a Pandora’s Box of secret-spilling that some believe could prove difficult to reverse.

Says Benton: “Whatever happens to the domain name and the actual organisation, the idea unleashed by WikiLeaks is going to continue”.

Ben Laurie, a data security expert who has advised WikiLeaks, concurs: “The concept is not going to die.

It’s really hard to keep things shut down if they want to stay up,” he said. “Look at everything else people would like not to happen online — phishing, spam, porn. It’s all still there”

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•PERSPECTIVES People & Places

NAIROBI'S NEW MAN IN WASHINGTON

'The Diaspora is the 48th County'

Washington DC is a plum diplomatic posting. ELKANAH ODEMBO ABSALOM, a denizen of the human rights movement, is Kenya's latest ambassador. DEA's JOHN MULAA spoke to him about where he intends to steer Kenya's diplomacy vis a vis the Superpower. Excerpts

DIPLOMAT EAST AFRICA: Kenya-US relations, where are we and where do you intend to take them?

ODEMBO: I have come from Paris. My first observation is how different Washington is from Paris—an equally important station.

Washington is a complex and challenging assignment. The USA is a complex and important country. It isthe world's leading superpower, which makes our relationship vitally important.My goal as ambassador is that Kenya be seen, heard, and felt across the United States.

Obviously, perceptions about Kenya in the USA are mixed, and there have been tensions between the two countries chiefly revolving around the issue of governance in Kenya. However, I also know that there is a reservoir of goodwill for Kenya in the USA. I have seen and felt it. The level of goodwill has increased since Kenya held and passed a referendum on the new Constitution. I am very optimistic. My goal is to help advance Kenya's interests—economic, political, environmental, you name it. The specific tools I will deploy are the country's mission here and the Kenyan Diaspora in the US, estimated to be close to 500,000. I intend to mobilise these resources to advance Kenya's agenda using innovative diplomacy. The diplo-

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and states. My strategy is to focus on those parts that are likely to yield highest returns for Kenya.

I will also strategically deploy stakeholders in Kenya to come here and make their case, for instance the Kenya Anti-Corruption Authority and the Independent Electoral Commission. A road show for both would not be a bad idea.

macy of yesteryear may have been adequate for its place and time, but times have changed. We too must change and so must the role of ambassador.

First and foremost, I intend to highlight the many positive things happening in Kenya (the Constitution, Vision 2030). They need to be known and appreciated.The how of it will involve deploying a sophisticated media and communications strategy. We have more or less put that in place. Already, a US company on a two-year contract is helping us to get our message out. I am mapping out important actors, a complex undertaking in the light of the complexity of the US, which has very many stakeholders compared to, say, Paris. There is Congress, departments, lobby groups,

December - January 2011

Q: Eyebrows were raised in some circles about US involvement in the recent constitutional changes in Kenya. Care to comment?

A: The US was and is involved because it has always been concerned about governance issues in Kenya. The Constitution is at the centre of the governance agenda Agenda 4. The US would like to see progress on this agenda and indeed provided support for civic education and provided resources to enable the process to go forward. The US has always supported the creation and expansion of civic space in Kenya. I hear there was all manner of talk, including assertions that the US had taken a position.

Q: How about the President Obama factor in the process?

A: President Obama was very keen. When I presented my credentials to him, one of the first things he said to me was, 'Congratulations on the new Constitution. This is your

•PERSPECTIVES People & Places moment and you have my support.

That coming from him is a clear indication that he was keen to see the outcome of the referendum.

To be honest with you, a No win would have set us back many years. President Obama is excited for good reasons. Because he has paternal links with Kenya, he has a soft spot for the country. He is going to hold the bar a bit higher for us.

I have heard from people close to him that he really wants to see Kenya become an example of a wellmanaged and -governed African country. That would give him pride because he has roots in Kenya. If things go haywire in Kenya, it impacts on him as an individual, and also people's perceptions of who he is. If Kenya becomes a success, he can proudly refer to it as he recently did at the United Nations General Assembly. Kenya is the only African country he referred to, and in a very positive manner.

Q: The merits of the new Constitution from your perspective?

A: The new Constitution provides a promise of a new life and beginning. President Obama is hopeful because he is aware of the country's potential and besides he has a stake in it. We should exploit that tremendous goodwill, but ultimately we must get on with it ourselves.

Q: The Hague Issue: How prominently does it feature in your diplomacy here?

A: It comes up very often in the context of people wanting to know whether, as a country, we are serious about fighting impunity. Unfortunately, it reared its head more prominently when Sudan's President Omar Bashir was invited to our promulgation of the Constitution. I have encounters with the media where all they want to talk about is Bashir, who invited him, why he was not arrested. And then

they usually tie that to the idea that if we have disregarded ICC's position vis a vis Bashir, how likely are we to cooperate with the international body on the issues emanating from the post-election violence?

My answer always is we must separate those two things. Kenya is a signatory of the Rome Statute, but we are also a member of the African Union. AU has written to the ICC and the UN Security Council pleading for more time for the AU to conduct its own investigation after condemning the things that took place in Darfur. The two bodies never so much as acknowledged the AU entreaties.For the international community to turn around and accuse us of bad motives ignores the facts on the ground.

To begin with, there is the larger context of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and Kenya's role in it. The agreement was signed in Kenya after the loss of more than two million people over 20 years in southern Sudan. No doubt the 300,000 deaths in Darfur are abhorrent, but let us remember that the stakes in terms of potential loss of human life are very high if it unravels.

Q: What assets do you bring to your assignment?

A: I am not a trained diplomat.

What I have is nearly 30 years of community development work in Kenya, and as a human rights activist. I also worked with several US entities, including the Oklahomabased World Neighbours Organisation, at country and regional level, and with the Ford Foundation.

I have great passion for my country. That background provides an intimate knowledge of what Kenyans desire and a good sense of the issues Americans view as important. I spent nearly eight years here as a student. Several assets I bring to the task more than compensate for the shortcomings of my

lack of diplomatic background.

I am not a trained diplomat. What I have is nearly

30 years of community development work in Kenya, and as

a human rights activist. I also worked with several US entities, including the Oklahoma-based World Neighbours Organisation, at country and regional level

Q: What has been the impact of the posting on your family?

A: Becoming a diplomat has had quite some effect on our family.

We have two children, a girl and a boy, both teenagers. We uprooted them from school in Nairobi when we headed to Paris about two years ago. After they were just beginning to settle, we came out here. My wife, Aoko, has personally felt the impact too. She was a businessperson in Kenya and an independent woman to boot. But the US is not entirely new to her. She attended graduate school here and has many friends.

Whatever the downside, we agreed as a family that being posting here provided us with a grand opportunity to make a difference.

Q: Any messages?

A: To the Diaspora, this is our moment. Whatever your circumstances, get involved back home.

It produces a wonderful feeling.

The Diaspora has the potential to become the 48th County and the most affluent.

How do we leverage that? By being united and working on all things—small or big—that influence our country. The nonsense of retreating into ethnic cocoons that have zero value is self-defeating and useless. I know some of us out here are struggling, hustling as it were, but even then small efforts can produce huge outcomes.

Q: Give us a pen self-portrait—in a nutshell.

A: Am a 53-year-old Nairobian.

Son of Absalom Odhiambo, originally from Ugenya, Siaya, erstwhile resident of No. 14 Makongeni. I have six siblings, two of whom reside in Paris, where they went long before I was posted there. Went to St Teresa's Boys, Secondary School, Eastleigh, Nairobi. Had a lucky break and ended up in Andover

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•CULTURE

REVIEWS•RAVES•REVUES•REPASTS

Season of Holidays

By CAROL GACHIENGO

P

lato describes two worlds in the Phaedo.

The first is a world of imperfection in which we struggle to gain understanding through the senses. In the better second world of perfection, all things are communicated without the need for words. For us mortals in the imperfect world, communication is further complicated by cultural nuances.

Should you trip and fall in Kenya, one of two things will happen, depending on your age and the age of your audience. A teenage audience will laugh openly and heartily when a contemporary falls.

This is not mean-spirited laughter; they do not relish the idea of injury to their friend. It is humour, pure and simple, Kenyan-style. There’s something comically absurd about witnessing another take a tumble, the more unseemly, the more hilarious.

HANDSHAKE

Adult contemporaries have reined in the impulse to laugh when another hits the ground, the polite response being a concerned “sorry” and a hand up. “Sorry” in Africa is a statement of concern and commiseration, not an apology, hence the response often proffered

by Westerners “it’s not your fault” comes as a surprise to a speaker who clearly realises this.How then to appropriately communicate across cultures, particularly in this season of Christmas, Bodhi Day, Ashura, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Al Hijra and the Gregorian Calendar’s New Year when social events are most prevalent? People have been shaking hands to signify friendship since

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Greek times. A sign of hospitality and trust, the handshake takes on greater importance between diplomats; it signifies a lowering of barriers, a mutual reliance, a meeting on equal footing. The handshake between Kenya’s Principals President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga is etched on the memory of the nation’s history as the moment when it became clear that all would be well following the post-election violence in 2008.

It is surprising how fond we are of the handshake in Africa, seeing

as to how recently the habit has been introduced into our culture.

Neglecting to shake hands is now considered at best unfriendly and, at worst, an insult.A rose is a rose is a rose. A handshake, however, has many facets. Generation Y has its own unique handshake that symbolises membership, and which those of other generations who wish to avoid mirth at their expense should not attempt. Between businesspeople a handshake must be firm and brief; while between relatives in Africa, particularly after

•CULTURE

Reviews•Raves•Revues•Repasts

eyes. Not so in traditional Africa, where sustained eye contact by the young with an older person may be seen as either rude or as an indication of defiance. The more contemporary younger generation knows as if by instinct when to maintain eye contact with elders (in the urban setting) and when to avoid it (in a traditional setting).

SNEEZING

There’s nothing like being unfamiliar with a culture to make one seem uncouth. In Kenya, the etiquette of sneezing requires the sneezing party to cover his mouth, tame the sneeze somewhat, and say “excuse me” at the end of it. In some cultures, the sneezing party sneezes with abandon, and on top of it is rewarded with a hearty “bless you!” Imagine the horror of those who expect the ‘sneezer’ to say “excuse me”, when he merely glances around, baffled because no one has bothered to say “bless you”.

CELEBRATIONS

extended separation, a handshake is long and involves much handpumping. During the Christmas season, the hand-pumping, by unspoken agreement, is even more prolonged.

EYE

In Western cultures, maintaining eye contact is not only polite, it is a sign of honesty and an indication that one is paying attention. A job interview is likely to go best for the candidate who maintains eye contact, for no one trusts the fellow with shifty

It is the season of religious holidays and holy days.

Throughout December, people around the world will be celebrating their own particular holiday in their own particular style — by prayer, reflection and introspection, lighting of candles, gift-giving or feasting.

Whatever your holiday or style, may you remember to laugh at yourself a little when you stumble, bless a stranger when he sneezes, engage in many warm and extended handshakes, and live to celebrate another season of holy days

HANUKKAH Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabees defeated the Seleucid Empire. After the victory, there was only enough oil to burn for one day, yet the oil burned for eight days, allowing for the creation of a new supply of fresh oil. Hanukkah starts on the Hebrew calendar date of 25 Kislev, and lasts for eight days. In 2010, Hanukkah will be from December 2nd to December 9th.

AL HIJRA Al-Hijra is the Islamic New Year. It is celebrated on the first day of Muharram, the month in which Muhammad emigrated from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE (the Hijra).

Islamic years are calculated from 1 Muharram, 622 CE. They are followed by the suffix AH, which stands for “After Hijira” or Anno Higirae (Latin). In 2010, Al-Hijra will be on around December 7, 2010, which will be 1426 AH.

ASHURA Ashura is the 10th day of the Islamic month of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar. On Ashura in 680, Husayn, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad and the third imam of Shiite Islam, was killed during the battle of Karbala in present-day Iraq. This year, Ashura will be around December 17.

BODHI DAY Bodhi Day is a Buddhist holiday celebrated on

December 8th, the day Prince Siddhartha Gautama transcended suffering and awakened to his true nature and to the true nature of all being. The young prince then became known as the Buddha, or The Awakened One. CHRISTMAS DAY Christmas is a Christian holiday observed on December 25 to commemorate the birth of Christ. It is not known when Jesus was born, because the Roman calendar was in use at the time. Around 350 years after Jesus’ birth, Pope Julius 1 chose 25 December as the date of the Nativity.

KWANZAA Kwanzaa is a seven-day celebration in the United States honouring AfricanAmerican heritage and culture. Kwanzaa is observed from December 26 to January 1 every year. The celebration features activities such as candle-lighting and libations, and culminates in a feast and gift giving.

NEW YEAR’S DAY New Year’s Day is celebrated on January 1 in all countries using the Gregorian calendar as their main calendar and is usually a public holiday.

LABYRINTH Communicating Across CulturesA sign of hospitality and trust, the handshake acquires added importance and significance between diplomats; it signifies a lowering of barriers, a mutual reliance, a meeting on an equal footing

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•WITH A LIGHT TOUCH Seriously Lighthearted

HUMOUR

Christmas Cheer Caps Balozi’s Eventful Year

By BALOZI DIPLOMACIA You will recall my dramatic, if hair-raising, escapades at the UN General Assembly in September. Apparently because of my enthusiastic display of active applause for the missiles of speeches by Ahmedinejad (Nuke as he is called elsewhere), Uncle Bob from down South and lanky Paul from the land of many hills, I was the subject of dagger-glances by our entourage throughout the New- Yorkto-JKIA trip.

You will call to mind that, despite and in spite of myself, emotions had got the better of me such that I openly and loudly cheered the leaders who hammered away at the Western world and the UN edifice claiming a skewed world, discrimination, double standards, domination…suchlike. You will remember that when Comrade Ahmedinejad had risen to deliver his powerful, if searing, speech, I threw diplomatic etiquette to the four winds and started cheering before he uttered a word. When he tore into the West, you can see me in your eye of eyes ululating, cat-calling, chanting and what not, completely entranced by his sheer temerity. It was as if my side, the Gunners, were mauling the Red Devils with myself as the single cheerleader at Nakivubo Stadium!

If you reflect, you will see me be-

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ing frogmarched out of the UN General Assembly hall against my will and in violation of my inalienable freedoms right under the nose of Uncle Sam, that kindly ole man who secured such freedoms for the free world eons ago. You can therefore understand why, as the aeroplane reached for the skies en route back home, the Mashariki Mwa Afrika delegates shot acidic glances in my direction, in a manner likely to suggest that I was an alien from Mars.

EXECUTIVE

During the stop over, this time at London Gatwick, my attempt to join HE Chief, meaning our Minister, in the executive lounge to wait for the connecting flight were flatly curtailed when he fixed me a glance that said it all. “You are such a rascal, you nincompoop. How dare you, of such a dirt-low rank, dare join me in the presidential lounge when mortals of your ilk ought to be suffering in the passageways on the hard benches? And this when you have brought disrepute to our nation!”

HE seemed to be saying without uttering a word, just by the ferocity of his eyes and the contours on his contorted face.

Thus I joined the throngs in the general waiting areas of Gatwick and, boy, wasn’t it a long stretch?

During the jump across the pool

from New York to London, it had finally dawned on me, as Asumpta would put it, that I ‘had shelled on the plate’, or as Macho Odhis Papa, the towering security detail, would say: “You have poured the flour”, meaning you have not only made a mess of yourself but it will also cost you dearly. You can therefore understand why I felt low as I fidgeted and wriggled on the stone-hard wooden bench.

When we finally boarded the flight for JKIA, Smart Alec, the guy from the Intelligence Unit, sat next to me and intermittently informed me of the dire consequences that awaited me ahead. He delivered the verdict that I was, as sure as the sun rises from the East and sets in the West, on the verge of a sack. “Your goose is cooked”, he said and, for a fleeting moment, my mind went to traditional chicken stew before my thoughts returned to the heavy subject of the ‘dire consequences’.

“You know [as if I knew], the West is our lifeblood. Your gross misbehaviour has now shown that we pretend to be their friends, when deep down, we are of a worldview favourable to the Axis of Evil”, Smart Alec whispered. “It’s true these guys force many conditions down our throats, but we must continue in the pretence, lest they call in their loans and grants, cut off aid and starve us

of all the support for which we are eternally beholden to them”, he said a while later, adding unnecessarily that diplomacy called for this approach. “You should have cheered Ahemedinejad only in your heart of hearts”, he added, as the aeroplane started descending, my heart sinking with it as we rapidly lost height.

MOBILE

As luck would have it, however, the first call I received on my mobile phone shortly after landing was that an Oriental delegation was to visit Mashariki mwa Afrika in a couple of days and their diplomatic mission had requested that I specifically handle all matters protocol for them.

I faked a protest to the effect that allocation of such duties lay way above me in the pecking order at the wizara, but the caller, who spoke in halting English and kept referring to me as ‘Ali Baba’, assured that things had been arranged with our protocol office.

“You see the world was watching you when you made those noises in New York”, Smart Alec explained when I went to the office a day after that eventful trip, “the Orientals must have liked your bravado in displaying your oomph right under the Western nose and I am told HE has been told you must accompany the visiting Oriental party and arrange all the itineraries. You must thank your gods”, concluded that indeed smart snoop.

To cut a long story short, the stars had finally smiled on me as 2010 came to a close. Let me mention that the Orientals, against tradition, tipped me quite heftily as I took them from one meeting to another Christmas came early for me — but that is a story for another day.

Want Life on The Fast Lane? Try a Car Park!

Fuyuhito Moriya, 39 still lives with his mother, but in circumstances you would call a tad unusual. Moriya, an unmarried man, and his mother, Yoko, live in a house built on 30 square metres, the same as the size of a parking space for just one car.

They live in what’s called an ultra-small house, a genre of single family homes bred of Japan’s economic stagnation and brought to life by architectural ingenuity.

Moriya wasn’t sure that the land, originally sold as a parking space for a car, would be big enough for a single family home. But when he started doing research into ultra-small homes, he began to realise it might work.

“My imagination was that it should be doable to build the rooms virtually on top of each other instead of side by side. So I thought that it might be possible, but I wasn’t

really sure if it’s actually possible.”

Standing in his home, about the size of an American walk-in closet, Moriya triumphantly says it’s not just possible, it’s livable.

South-facing, large windows create the illusion of space.

Minimal furniture and clutter keep the small home tidy.

Hideaway cabinets for kitchen appliances and half size sinks (yes half size) shrink expected space.

Even the spiral staircase shaves inches, drawn as a triangle instead of a circle, slashing the space’s diameter.

Privacy has proven a challenge, since he and his mother can’t exactly escape each other. “That’s indeed a problem.

Meanwhile, every time motorists park next to them and drive away, what does son tell mother? “Our neighbours have moved, again!”

Riding To the Life Hereafter- in Style!

When you depart this earth, would you make your final journey in a giant chicken, fish, tortoise or hammer? Feel free to think for five more minutes.

In western Africa, enough people would to make noveltycoffin maker Eric Adjetey Anang and his apprentices very busy men.

Anang is the third generation of his family from Teshie in Ghana to run Kane Kwei Carpentry Workshop, making bespoke novelty coffins in just about any shape -- from cars to pigs to snails to pianos.

Their coffins have become so popular that Anang says he has made between 200 and 300 in a year -- for Ghanaians, for export to countries including the United States, Canada, Belgium, Spain and South Korea, and to display at international exhibitions.

One chief, who had ordered a palanquin shaped as a

cocoa pod, died unexpectedly before the festival, so he was buried in the palanquin instead.

Anang said: “Soon after that my great grandmother died.

She was always dreaming of travel, but she never got a chance to do it, so my grandfather made her an airplane [coffin] so she could travel after death.”

The third fancy coffin was for a chief fisherman who was buried in a canoe.

A chicken coffin would be highly symbolic for an old lady who had many children. Others choose coffins relevant to their occupation, so a fisherman would have a fish, a cocoa farmer would have a cocoa pod and a tomato seller would have a tomato. He recently did a piano and a spanner [wrench] for a couple in the Netherlands because she was a piano teacher and he was a mechanic.

In Ghana’s traditional beliefs, the coffins transport one into the afterlife.

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•ODYSSEYS People & Places

NEW ERA IN OLD COUNTRY

Ethiopia: Diplomacy’s Roundtable, Crossroads of Civilisations

The Land of a Thousand Smiles has a long and chequered history but has undertaken a complete make-over, with a rapidly changing Addis skyline, thanks to heavy investment in real estate, reports WANJOHI KABUKURU

A

ddis Ababa is Africa’s diplomatic capital. Being home to the African Union (AU), where all of the continent’s major unified political, social and economic decisions are made, no country in the continent wants to be left out of the Addis scene.

It is significant to note that AU is the single largest voting bloc within the United Nations, and

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this is among the items that make Addis Ababa a strategic city and a diplomat’s round-table. But Ethiopia is much more.

It is a well-known federal state and plays a crucial role in the global Forum of Federations which brings together federal governments across the world. Ethiopia boasts nine federal regions and provides history buffs with a wealth of study material from its ancient and chequered history —

it features in the Old Testament and earlier writings — to its modern political evolution and transformation.

Though they don’t say it in so many words, there is something about Ethiopians that is distinctly Ethiopian. Each and every time I disembark at the Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa that feeling always gets to me. Not because, as a Kenyan, the Ethiopians treat me as one of their own,

•ODYSSEYS People & Places thanks to age-old pacts and cosy diplomatic relations between Nairobi and Addis, it is their resolute devotion to their country.

One only needs to see Ethiopians from all walks of life converge in their ancient Eastern Rite churches to see how devoted they are. And it is not matters religious that define Ethiopians’ dedication. It is a concatenation of their fashion sense, nationalistic fervour, culinary enchantment, zeal for life, artistic expression, cultural sensitivities and approach to service. A remarkable aspect of an ancient culture at ease with itself is how the most notable aspects of the Ethiopian scene have retained its heritage and yet managed to jell with modernity without losing its cultural ethos in the very modern early 21st Century.

Ethiopians are also known for many things. In some quarters, Ethiopia is defined as The Land of a Thousand Smiles, thanks to its friendly people and extremely photogenic people. Nothing beats the legend of the Queen of Sheba, a tale of fame, riches and glory that you’ll pick up from any of the myriad exotic kiosks vending Abyssinian coffee.

why this is the case and he chips in that there is a new law in town whose enforcement is also strict on building standards. He further shows me the seven-floor hospitality building aptly named Hotel Kenenisa Bekele, coming up soon.

Ethiopia’s world-beating middle and distance runners, the just retired Haile Gebreselassie and Kenenisa Bekele among others, are some of the country’s worldrenowned sports icons and investors who have channelled their hard currency foreign earnings into Ethiopian commerce.

BUILDING

MONESTRY

One other thing you’ll come to learn is that some of the world’s oldest civilizations are to be found here in Ethiopia. These include the monastery of Debre Damo, the castles of Gondar, the Lalibela Church, wholly hewn out of rock, the mysterious gigantic totem stelae at Axum and the 19th Century Church of Markos (Saint Mark).

Ethiopian legend has it that the Queen of Sheba’s son, Emperor Menelik I, and King Solomon brought the Ark of the Covenant from Jerusalem to Axum in northern Ethiopia. Though to some the Queen of Sheba story may sound like a myth, the reality is that ar-

chaeological evidence exists and this has attracted many wannabe Indiana Joneses to search for the Holy Grail and even the very Ark of the Covenant in Ethiopia — with little success.

The capital Addis Ababa (which is Amhara for ‘wild flower’) is a city under intensive reconstruction. On each and every street there is a new multi-storey building coming up. At the African Union headquarters a new complex constructed by the Chinese is underway. The same is happening at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) compound. I ask my cabbie

The heavy construction is not just confined to the private sector buildings. Road works are also under reconstruction. In the next five years Addis Ababa’s skyline will be totally different, thanks to the heavy infrastructural edifices currently taking shape. In other words, Addis is undergoing a complete make-over that would see it taking a plum position in the settings of the world’s capitals.

Addis has some fine restaurants, mostly celebrated for their coffee, as well as diverse dishes that delightedly cater for all gastronomic wants.

Seeking a national dress — the authentic Ethiopian wear — is not such a difficult assignment as it is in the case of neighbouring Kenya. Other than the tautologically echoing Mercato Market, there are numerous other shops to get hand-woven unique Ethiopian drapery and they don’t disappoint. The costs too are affordable and enticing.

The refrains ‘Malaysia Truly Asia’, ‘Proudly South African’ and ‘I Love NY’ celebrate globally well-known nation and one city brands. For ancient Abyssinia in its deliciously diverting modern form, I go with ‘Devoutly, Devotedly, Delightfully Ethiopian’

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•DEA HOTELS Lifestyles & Hospitality

LAP OF LUXURY

A Five-star Treat for the Holiday Season

T

By JANE MWANGI

he InterContinental Nairobi has been a discreet jewel in the crown of the capital city for decades and is renowned for the sheer elegance that positions it as an iconic hotel in the city centre.

The InterContinental Nairobi has for over four decades provided world-class hospitality for its local and international guests and as an oasis of comfort for business travellers as well as those who want to experience the wonders of Africa.

A brand of the InterContinental Hotels Group, InterContinental Nairobi is tastefully decorated with a panoply of earth colours and shapes; the decor manages to achieve a fine balance of class and sophistication, communicating a message of pure luxury. Its strategic position is idyllic, just 16 kilometres from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Parliament Buildings and the Jomo Kenyatta Mausoleum are a short stroll away and the Kenyatta International Conference Centre is right next door.

The and Nairobi National Park, the world’s only wild animal park adjacent to a metropolis, Museum Hill and the Elephant Orphanage are within easy reach, enabling one to experience the sights and sounds of an African safari.

The Hotel boasts 376 superbly appointed guest rooms and suites with unmistakably refined 5-star quality. Accommodation ranges from superior to deluxe rooms up

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to the opulence of the Presidential Suite. Club InterContinental rooms are located on the sixth floor together with the Private Club Lounge — a sophisticated meeting place where the complimentary breakfast, evening cocktails and canapes are served.

InterContinental offers a choice of formal and casual restaurants and bars, from the 24-hour lobby cafe to the Classical Italian restaurant La Prugna D’oro. Then there is

December - January 2011

INTERCONTINENTAL:

1.The Deluxe suite 2.The Terrace 3 &4 Presidential Suite 5. Plantation

the tropical hideaway that is the Makuti Bar as well as one of the finest Indian restaurants in Kenya Bhandini. There is also the Terrace, overlooking the pool, that offers a full a la carte menu and in the evening serves nyama choma (roast meat).

It is worth a visit to the Safari Bar just to enjoy a drink in the colonial charm and clubby atmosphere.

An interesting mix of international visitors and local residents congregate for cocktails and light snacks,

On Christmas Eve, the Terrace restaurant offers an evening to remember, the extremely popular St Stephen’s choir will be singing alltime favourite carols as guests enjoy a delicious festive buffet with live cooking stations for only Sh2,990.

And if that doesn’t get your heart racing, from 5pm there will be a special Christmas Eve Salsa Night at the famous Safari Bar. Daniel Ebo tells me that on New Year’s Eve, they are putting on a party for you and your loved ones under the theme ‘James Bond Masquerade’. Starting from 7pm till past midnight, the night begins with welcome drinks and little nibbles before guests proceed to dine at the Terrace. Then, enjoy the countdown on the big screen and finally end the night dancing on your feet. This New Year package is for only Sh3,950 per person.

And you can usher in the dawn of the New Year with a delicious buffet at the Terrace restaurant and indulge in a fantastic array of freshly cooked dishes. For the evening dinner, you can opt for the Prugna D’oro or the Bhandini Indian restaurant and take your taste buds to Italy or India. especially after 9pm. Theme nights highlighting various musical styles and entertainment are big draws for fans of salsa, karaoke, blues, jazz and other music.

Africa Area Director of Sales and Marketing, Mr. Daniel Ebo says, “We have created a Christmas atmosphere around this festive season for our guests to feel the joys and wonders that the season brings. We have laid out a spectacular Christmas extravaganza at very special rates”.

The hotel has also prepared some-end-of year parties for corporate companies looking to end the year in style. “Depending on their budget and their interest, we have diverse themes like the cabaret ball, a disco, a cocktail or jazz”, explains Ebo. He goes on to say that almost 60% of the guests this time around are repeat customers who came last year.

“We maintain the lead as the

Number One hotel due to our employees; every hotel offers food, hot shower and a bed, however the calibre of employees is our mark of distinction. Ours are the best trained and gotten from the roots — we mostly get Utalii College graduates.

We follow our brand standard and continuously improve our brand to maintain an International standard.

If one is staying at the InterContinental Dubai, he/she experiences the same quality standard if they were to stay at the InterContinental Nairobi”.

The InterContinental Hotel has been highly decorated by global dignitaries and heads of State who have stayed at the Presidential suite. Half of Africa’s heads of State have been hosted here. International visitors, too, such as US Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton among others have sampled the rare hospitality and luxury offered at the hotel. As Ebo points out, each of these high-ranking guests leaves an indelible mark that is simply unique to that individual.

During Clinton’s visit, she insisted on meeting and personally thanking everybody who was part of her stay at the InterContinental, regardless of status. Says Ebo: “The impression she left was that she was just like you and me. When you get to meet the crème de la crème, the world’s elite, you discover they are very self-effacing, very humble. As for Biden, he insisted that he didn’t want us to do anything for him that we wouldn’t do for anyone else. On the other hand, Sheikh Mohamed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, was very impressionable, casual and accessible.”

He goes on: “We are continuously improving our services and are embarked on a refurbishment exercise which saw 75 rooms upgraded in 2010 and another 75 are due in 2011. We create an atmosphere of ‘home away from home’. We want to make InterContinental the ultimate destination and continue to be the landmark hotel in Africa"

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•ENVOYS OF SPORT 2011 IN FOCUS

LOOKING AHEAD

It was the Year of the World Cup & Kenya’s David Rudisha

W

ill New Zealand’s all-conquering All Blacks at long last win the Rugby World Cup in 2011?

In September, the Rugby World Cup will kick off in New Zealand and give the All Blacks a chance to win the trophy that has eluded them since 1987. Every time the quadrennial tournament is staged, the All Blacks start as red hot favourites; they beat every team in the round robin first phase and then get eliminated at later stages.

The All Blacks beat every opposition in every tournament and then slump at the Rugby World Cup. Pundits usually argue that the All Blacks peak too early, which would mean that they are usually on the downward slide when the World Cup comes around.

But peaking early could also mean that they are in such devastating form for other tournaments that when the cup comes around they are too tired to cope or simply that they do not know how to prepare for a demanding month-long tournament.

For all their undoubted and proven prowess in every department on the pitch, despite having the best attack, the best defence and the best all-round team year-in-andyear-out, the All Blacks have won the Rugby World Cup only once. Since 1988, the team has won 192 matches and drawn four times of the 240 test matches they have played.

If they do not win it at home in 2011, they will have lived up to their World Cup notoriety and the question will linger, when will they do it? If they win it, they will have ended the

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longest trophy drought in the history of Rugby World Cup. The last time the Rugby World Cup was held on African soil was in 1995 and hosts South Africa won it before beloved President Nelson Madiba Mandela. The Springboks are the reigning Rugby World Cup champions.

TENNIS

Will Roger Federer, who ended 2010 on a winning note by vanquishing Rafael Nadal at the London season ender in November, reclaim the World Number One perch in 2011?

Federer was in devastating form as he beat Nadal in a three-setter in the final and after putting up a tournament performance that thrilled enthusiasts, admirers and organisers alike.

Next is the Australian Open, which kicks off 2011 in Melbourne where Federer will be defending his title. Nadal ended 2010 with 12,450 to Federer’s 9,145 and he will be keen to pile up the points to remain Number One while Federer would like to do the same to dislodge Nadal. The rivalry continues.

It will also be interesting to see whether Novak Jokovich and Andy Murray, third and fourth respectively in the world rankings, will up their game and challenge for the first two positions. Jokovich ended the year with 6,035 points to Murray’s 5,760.

Juan Martin Del Potro, the skyscraper who blasted his way to victory in the US Open in 2009, dropped from World Number Four to 259 and when he makes his return in the Australian Open he will be hoping he can claw his way back to the top echelons of the game.

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Danish youngster Caroline Wozniacki, she of the strong legs and arms, shot to the top of the women’s game in 2010, though she is without a grand slam. She unseated Serena Williams in October and at 20 she ended the year as the undisputed leader of the younger generation.

She will be up against Belgian Kim Clijsters, the 27-year-old who took time off to start a family and returned with a bang in 2009, when she won the US Open and successfully defended in 2010. Serena will miss the Australian Open as she is still struggling with injury since her success at Wimbledon in July.

Serena’s big sister Venus has had only one competitive event after Wimbledon and that was the US Open. Lovers of the women’s game will be watching closely to see if the sisters will renew their dominance of the sport in 2011.

Australia’s Number One, Samantha Stosur, is on record as saying that she could be World Number One. She beat Serena at Roland Garros and reached the final. She also beat Wozniacki in 2010 and will carry the hopes of a nation when the Australian Open gets underway in January.

FORMULA 1

The first Grand Prix to be held in India will take place on October 30 on a brand new 5.14-kilometre track called the Jaypee International Race Circuit, in Delhi. The ambition of the Indian organisers cannot be gainsaid. The track’s main stand will have a 30,000 spectator capacity.

The track infrastructure, to be supplied by Siemens India, will cost €21.5 million. The Jaypee International Race Track is but part of the Jaypee

The first Grand Prix to be held in India will take

place on October 30 on a brand new 5.14-kilometre track called the Jaypee International Race Circuit, in Delhi

•ENVOYS OF SPORT 2011 IN FOCUS

Sports City, which, when completed, will sit on a 2,800-actre spread.

The new track will have an average lap speed of 210km and a top speed of 218km per hour. Force India will be hoping that, come October 30, their cars and team will be in good shape to thrill the home fans.

The Red Bull team of Sebastian Vettel, the world champion, and Mike Webber, the runner-up, will be hoping to see off the challenge of MacLaren, which they dethroned, and Ferrari, whose Fernando Alonso came pretty close.

FOOTBALL

The World Footballer of the Year — Balloon d’Or — to be named on January 10 will be an FC Barcelona player. The three contestants for the diadem are Lionel Messi and illustrious teammates Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta.

They are part of a Barcelona team that mesmerises with fluid and freeflowing football that has fans wishing they could gift-wrap the 11 and take them home. But the Spanish champions failed to defend their UEFA Champions League, losing to eventual winners Inter Milan at the semifinal stage.

This could be the reason the League will be even more closely contested and watched because last year’s Inter coach Jose Mourinho is 2011’s Real Madrid tactician and Real are Barcelona’s arch-rivals. Second, Mourinho has won the Champions League with FC Porto of Portugal and Inter of Italy and would like to do the same with nine-winners Real, especially over Barcelona.

Third, in 2010 Mourinho won the Italian Serie A, League Cup and Champions League and would like to repeat at Madrid what he did at the San Siro and claim the mantle of Europe’s top-notch coach. The Champions League was launched to create an atmosphere of great and fierce competition and pit Europe’s best against each other and 2011

should witness exactly that. The various European premier leagues have in their teams many African players such as Chelsea’s Didier Drogba, Jon Mikel Obi, Michael Essien and Keita Seydou of Barcelona, to name but four whose presence in the matches of 2011 should keep Africa watching.

The continent will remember 2010 as the year it played host to the FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

GOLF

Tiger Woods will be looking to have a more rewarding 2011. He has not won since 2009 and for the first time he enters a new year as World Number Two. He has been replaced at the top by England’s Lee Westwood at a time when pundits are predicting a good run for European golfers, especially following their Ryder Cup success.

IAAF

Kenya’s David Rudisha finished 2010 in great style, as world record holder for 800 metres and as World Athlete of the Year. Rudisha broke the 800m record twice and in 2011 IAAF will be hoping that he will light up stadia for its calendar, which starts on May 6 in Doha and ends on September 16 in Brussels.

Here is the IAAF calendar of events: Doha Shanghai Rome Eugene Oslo New York Lausanne Paris Birmingham Monaco Stockholm London Zurich Brussels

May 6 May 15 May 26 June 4 June 9 June 11 June 30 July 8 July 10 July 22 July 29 August 5/6 September 8 September 16

HOLD YOUR BREATH FOR LOOMING BARE-KNUCKLE FIGHTS! The question that was asked in 2010 and which will still be asked in 2011 is whether the Philippines’ Emmanuel Papidran, popularly known as Manny Pacquiao aka Pacman the Destroyer, will fight America’s Floyd Mayweather Junior aka Money?

It is an eagerly awaited fight which should settle, once and for all, who, between the 32-year-old Filipino and the 33-year-old American, is the world’s Number One pound-for-pound boxer.

Each claims the title, though as 2010 drew to a close, most pundits were giving it to Pacman.

Pacquiao, an eight-division world champion, has won 10 titles in eight different weight divisions. Mayweather is a five-division world champion and has won nine titles in five different weight divisions. But the two have never faced each other in the ring.

In 2010 Pacman and Money camps exchanged bitter words, with the American saying that he was ready to face the Pacquiao at any time but that the Filipino had to undergo a drugs test first.

Why Mayweather insists on the test for Pacquiao is not clear, but the allusion to steroids or banned substances gets under the skin of the Filipino.

Pundits, however, are of the opinion that either boxer needs a good fight and that it is the two of them going hammer and tongs at each other that will produce that fight. Pacman and Money would likely fight at super welterweight or welterweight.

All, fans across the globe included, agree that a Pacman vs.

Money fight could well be the bout of the decade. It will be a bare-knuckle fight, in a manner of speaking!

At the heavyweight berth, British boxer David Haye aka Hayemaker made it clear towards the end of 2010 that he wants to fight Wladimir Klitschko in 2011. Klitschko dismissed Haye as a clown in a CNN interview who talks up his credentials while Haye said he was sure he would knock out the Ukrainian.

Wladimir’s brother Vitali is also a heavyweight boxer, but the two have sworn never to fight each other. In 2008 Wladimir was the WBO, IBF and IBO champion while Vitali was the WBC champion which made the brothers the first to be world champions at the same time in the history of boxing.

Haye is the WBA world champion and a fight between him and either of the brothers will make for a big money contest as well as the kind of fight that fans would be eager to see. Haye has said he wants to retire in 2011 and cannot wait to get into the ring with either Vitali or Wladimir.

As the world waits with bated breath for these and other headline-grabbing pugilists to square it out in the ring (no-one knows for sure why a square thing is called a ring), the words of former World Heavyweight Champion, Mohamed Ali, aka Cassius Clay to opponent Joe Frazier, will especially ring true: that it is not the amount of dog in the fight that matters but the amount of fight in the dog!

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•DIARY Looking Forward

UN INTERNATIONAL YEARS – 2011 JANUARY International Year of forests International Year of Chemistry International Year for people of African Descent 10 – 11 January 2011

First Intersessional Meeting for the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20)

17 January – 4 February 2011, Geneva

Committee on the elimination of discrimination against women, 48th session

January 27

International day of commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust

•DEA CLASSIFIEDS

â&#x20AC;¢THE REGION Eastern Africa Beat

BAHRAIN