THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY INTEGRATION DEBATE.

In the week past, I attended and was one of the participants in the 1^st EAC university students’ debate on regional integration. EAC (East African Community), is an intergovernmental organization of the East African states namely; Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi and the United Republic of Tanzania. The states have embarked on a mission to gradually integrate economically and ultimately politically to form the East African Federation.

The East African Community logo.

The debate, which was held in Arusha Tanzania, brought together university students from all member states. It is worth noting that the city of Arusha is the headquarters of the EAC. The city has a history as a peace hub in the region, where many peace deals have been struck. It also houses the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR).

The debate which lasted from 23^rd to 24^th of August was officially opened by Mr. Philip Wambugu, who is the director of infrastructure EAC Secretariat, and was representing the secretary general of the EAC. Also in attendance was Ms. Heidtmann Miriam, Programme Manager, EAC- GIZ Programme on Promotion of Peace and Security.

During the debate, the participants were put together in groups of five, with each group having only one participant from each member state. The debaters were to interact with their counterparts from other member states and debate as a group to either oppose or propose the motion of political integration of the EAC states. Each member got three minutes to present their point and the group got five minutes for rebuttal after the presentations.

The debaters made it very clear the challenges and benefits that would come with the political integration of the region. Of importance is the fact that suggestions for overcoming the numerous challenges were also raised.

Day two saw a plenary session to recoup what had taken place in day one. Various fears raised on integration were responded to while suggestions were made on how to make the debate even better next time.

The evening of day two saw the gala dinner where participants and stake holders’ dined and danced and exemplary performance awarded. Hon. Jessica Eriyo, who is the EAC Deputy Secretary General, Productive and Social Sectors, was the chief guest. The colorful evening was one to remember.

 I was opposing the motion and my group came in 2^nd of the six groups. Three of the best groups were awarded with cash prizes by the chief guest. The best debaters were awarded with certificates as well as all the participants. 

Hon. Jessica Eriyo also awarded certificates to students who were selected to be the ambassadors to spread the message of the EAC integration in their countries. In her speech, the chief guest applauded all participants for having come that far, and urged them to spread the message of the region’s integration in their countries, insisting that the youth were an integral part of the process. 

The event culminated at a point where everyone was a winner for the roles they had played to make the first ever EAC University students’ debate such a huge success. On our part, all the students were able to create lasting bonds and contacts with their counterparts from other countries. A true spirit of East ‘Africanness’ was realized and it smote the air.

 The 1^st EAC University Students’ Debate on integration was truly a success and if all the issues raised during the event are put into consideration by those charged with the implementation of the integration processes, then better days lie ahead for the region.

LEST WE FORGET.......

It is frightening; the rate at which Kenyan’s forget. The country has barely recovered fully from the aftermath of a ghastly post election violence which was fuelled by negative ethnicity, only for strong forces of the ethnic hate to emerge yet again! I know, I’m having a tough time believing it myself.

Stop negative ethnicity in Kenya NOW!!

Not long ago, I wrote an article urging Kenyans to desist from these vices and believe it or not, mine was not the only voice out there advocating for sanity in politics and leadership in our beloved country. Such messages were reverberating from every corner of the country. It doesn’t get sadder than watching a people totally disregard voices of reason, to take on a dangerous path that they have walked down before, with a devastating aftermath to show for it.

The big question is; who will save Kenyans from themselves? In recent days Kenya’s vibrant social media networks have seen strong ethic groupings rise against each other and worse still, a look at the vulgarities exchanged between the groupings leaves your heart breaking like cheap porcelain. But thank God for the citizens who will not sit back and watch a nation go down that path again. The voices of reason are still amongst us and if we all work together; we will crash the monster that is negative ethnicity in our country.

The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), working in conjunction with the Cyber crime Unit, has promised a crack down on the people behind this unbecoming trend. On our part, my friends and I have embarked on sensitizing our peers over the issue and why we should not retract back to voting along tribal lines or spread negative ethnicity. I kindly urge all citizens of good will to join in this cause wherever they are.

Advocating for a peaceful and democratic Kenya is a noble cause that I will never pull back nor relent from. Having used some photos in my last article which I hoped would remind us of where we’ve come from, I settled on using a video clip this time round in the hope that we can pick a few lessons from it.

 I really hope that the powerful message contained in this clip serves as the last nail in the coffin of negative ethnicity, so we can bury this impious vice once and for all. This is the only way to initiate a positive turn of events for a better and brighter future for Kenya.

The following dear readers, is a short video clip of Kenya’s post election violence. Viewer discretion is advised.

 Source of video clip;http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPecFhwfSMw

Play your part in stopping negative ethnicity NOW so we can heal this our land and nation!!

GHOSTS OF RULINGS PASSED.

On the fateful new year’s eve of 2012, a woman went shopping at one of the exclusive shopping malls in Nairobi. As is norm in these times of high alert in Kenya, a security guard at the gate sought to subject her through the ordinary security checks. The woman found it offensive and she unceremoniously made her way into the shopping mall, upon which the security guard followed her insisting she follows laid down procedure. A debacle ensued. The woman is alleged to have fished out a gun from her hand bag and threatened to shoot the security guard. This was preceded by her pinching the nose of the guard and strongly advising her that “she should know people”.

That woman was Nancy Baraza, Kenya’s Deputy Chief Justice. The security guard was Ms. Rebecca Kerubo.  This incident hit news headlines and was followed by a huge wave of public outcry, prompting the Chief Justice to convene an emergency meeting of the JSC (Judicial Service Commission). The commission advised the president to immediately suspend the Deputy Chief justice from office and form a tribunal that would probe into her conduct after which it would make recommendations. 

Lady Justice Nancy Baraza.

Ms. Rebecca Kerubo at her work station.

Just the other day, the tribunal completed the task assigned and concluded that there were substantial grounds to believe that the Lady Justice Nancy Baraza assaulted Ms. Rebecca Kerubo. As such, the tribunal has recommended that the president relieves her from duty as Kenya’s Deputy CJ, citing that she is unfit to hold office.

One line; “TIMES HAVE CHANGED AND THE MIGHTY DO INDEED FALL”.

Thing is, Lady Justice Nancy Baraza will not be the first member of Kenya’s judiciary to be prematurely removed from office. CHANGE is the one word that best describes the on goings at this all important arm of the government. You might want to add that this change is very welcome though truth be told, it has been long overdue. You see, recent reforms introduced in Kenya’s Judiciary in a bid to restore public confidence in the institution have made immense progress.

For some time now, The Judges and Magistrates Vetting Board has been separating grain from chaff!! The board investigates the past and present conduct of Judges and magistrates and evaluates their suitability to hold office. Based on its findings, the board either clears one as fit to hold office or if found unfit, then one faces the sack. How cool is that!? # Pun totally intended! #

Formed by an act of parliament to assist in the implementation of the new constitution, the board has delivered resounding and unequivocal resolutions that have left the bench reeling in awe. 

Mr. Sharad Rao, Chairman of the Judges and Magistrates Vetting Board.

The sober panel does not mince its words when pronouncing its verdict. As expected, judges have been found unfit to hold office on grounds of having issued questionable rulings at any point in time during the execution of their judicial duties. Talk of ghosts from their pasts coming to haunt their present!! That’s not all. Judges and magistrates who let cases pile up without acting on them or those that use their judicial powers inappropriately are most definitely not going to be allowed to continue serving in Kenya’s judiciary!  These acts, the board has said, erode the public’s confidence in the institution.

Turns out that neither eminence nor years of practice in the judiciary can save you from the board’s axe. Who better to demonstrate this than justices Riaga Omollo, who by the way was the president of the Kenyan appellate court, Judge Samuel Bosire, court of appeal Judge Emmanuel Okubasu, Judge Joseph Nyamu and most recently High court Judge Jeanne Gacheche? These are some of the casualties of the judicial reform process. They have been sent packing and the Kenyan public knows only too well that this is just the beginning of the process of restoring their confidence in the institution.

Dr. Willy Mutunga, Chief Justice of Kenya's revamped Judiciary.

I have nothing but optimism in the positive changes that are taking place in Kenya’s judicial arm. Moving forward, the Legislature and the Executive arms of the government should totally borrow tips on how to win public confidence from the Judiciary. One step at a time, Kenya is finally moving towards becoming a wholesome democracy!!