Constitution making: The moment of truth!!!

Its with great pleasure that i welcome the Draft constitution prepared by the Committee of Experts(CoE) in Kenya ushering in a new dispensation order that is going to transform generations to come. Unlike the current constitution which was negotiated by the erstwhile colonial master with a few Kenyans sent to rubber stamp and legitimize it in Lancaster and bears the hallmarks of colonialism, this one is made in Kenya, by Kenyans and for Kenyans.
While am up bit about this development, am cautiously optimistic about two issues. One is concerning the participation of youths in the debate and secondly, about the manner in which Kenyan politicians are working over time to scuttle this document on account of very frivolous grounds touching on power. But my main concern is about the former group. Going by the statistics being bandied around, it is said that the youths in Kenya form the bulk of the populace standing at roughly 70-80%. Now this is a force to reckon with since it forms a substantial critical mass and a threshold enough to initiate change. This group not only represent the future(present), but also stands to either lose a great deal or gain depending on whether as a country we do adopt this constitution or reject it in toto.
While am willing to buy the argument that this document isn't a perfect one and neither is it a panacea for our struggles as young people, i'd wish that we seriously consider our choices lest we continue suffering due to the ineffectiveness of the current one. It's against this backdrop that i implore all young folks to not only study it keenly and soberly, but also contribute to the ongoing debate about various issues that stand to affect them and the generations to come. We should remember that we will act as guinea pigs if it sails through, and the judgement is going to be very harsh if we don't participate in the process which aims at coming up with a fair document. We as young people are the key stakeholders in the sense of us having a huge number, and also due to the fact that it'll be implemented under our very watch. Lets ignore the politicians who are obsessed with the power clause and lets read in order to make wise decisions that yield positive results and change. The onus is on us!

Hero or Villain

Listening to Mr.Robert Mugabe a.k.a Uncle Bob, speak at the 64th UN General Assembly meeting in New York, one wonders what makes this octogenarian war veteran tick. The guy has been in power since Zimbabwe gained its independence from its erstwhile colonial master, the British in 1980; and still appears prepared to lead this country until perhaps God denies him oxygen. According to him or at least the rumors going round, Mugabe doesn't trust anyone to take the reigns of power from him since he considers all and sundry either incompetent, disloyal or too westernized to take over leadership in a country he has fought so hard to extricate it from the western influence. While to some people Mugabe appears like a power hungry authoritarian dictator, there are quite a number of Africans who perceive him as a freedom fighter not just for the liberation of Zimbabwe, but the whole Africa at large. He cuts the image of a war veteran ready to put his life on the line for the sake of his people. This might explain why despite repeated calls by the western powers to the SADC and AU to impose sanctions on Mugabe and his cronies, many are reluctant to the idea. Some say this is born out of the fact that while Mugabe's style of ruling appears dictatorial and ruthless, he is not alone in this trade. Many African countries are led by either mild dictators or western stooges placed in power in organised coupe de tats to protect the western interest. People like Museveni, the late Omar Bongo, Meles Zenawi and Hosni Mubarak to mention but a few, are no saints. The only different is that, they either have natural resources like oil or represent greater military interest for the west in their crusade of countering global terrorism cells.

One thing is clear though, Uncle Bob has remained unwavering, resolute and focused on his believes and thats why he is paying a huge political prize in the form of sanctions and isolation by the west. The question that begs is this, does one have to dance to the wests' music to be considered a good leader? Is the concept of democracy rigid and universal the world over or does each country define its own as it grows and evolve slowly? I leave the verdict to you!

Impunity somewhere is impunity everywhere!

Why is it that it’s only in Africa where the head of state blatantly flaunt the set rule of laws governing the country and still expect the subjects to abide by the same set of laws. Why do we have different rules for the haves and a totally different set for the have-nots with the latter always paying the bigger price. Most parliaments in Africa have been reduced to mere rubber stamps and act at the whims of the executive with the hope of one day being rewarded for "loyalty" and sycophancy. The last time i checked, there is no single leader in history who ruled forever. Even uncle Bob who currently holds the title of being the longest serving head of state in Africa, will at some point bow out. There is no way democracy can thrive in an atmosphere of impunity and a system riddled with corruption. The state of India did not gain the fame of being the largest democracy on earth by merely holding elections. There is no single leader there who can rest on his/her laurels thinking that being the CEO of a country is an end in itself.
What we in Africa need in a total overhaul of our entire socio-political system and the empowerment of the poor who are mostly vulnerable and easily preyed upon by the rich politicians since they are perfectly aware that a poor man thinks with his stomach. If people get more informed, it goes without saying that, they'll be empowered to make wise decisions and most importantly, to raise their demands higher. They'll also actively engage in key debates touching on their livelihoods wile acting as public watchdogs against their "mis-leaders" who are bent on squeezing all the nations’ resources to themselves and their cronies.
The buck has to stop somewhere, and if the current crop of leaders cannot wake early enough and smell the proverbial coffee, somebody better wake them really fast!