Kenya Mourns a Humming Bird

It is a cloudy day in Nairobi and it has been for the last few days following the unfortunate death of Wangari Maathai, the flags lie low following the presidents announcement shortly after her demise that she will receive a state burial. She was the vox populi, a political activist and the world’s most celebrated personality when it came to environment preservation and human rights. From fairly humble beginnings, she rose to become an avante garde environmentalist, First African woman to receive a Nobel Peace Laureate, First East African woman to get a Phd as well establishing the Green Belt movement Foundation that seeks to conserve bio-diversity in Kenya. Wangari Maathai was a fighter; she survived a dictatorial regime that endeared to silence her dissent and her calls for gender equality. She went out of her way to protect the environment and struggled to protect ‘the fate of the species'. In her speech in Oslo, Norway after she was awarded the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize she denounced the use of a wooden coffin for the departed and it is there that her last wishes were written. Coming from a continent that is wrought with the scourge of HIV and AIDs, she called for an alternative to the usage of wooden coffins as it is not sustainable comparing to the amount of lives being lost on a daily basis. Her biggest achievement was the endless campaign she waged against anthropocentric views that has inspired many all over the globe. In her words, she will continue to become a humming bird and inspire so many for a long time to come. Her smile will forever be cherished and remain in people’s mind for the generations to come. She left us with a huge responsibility, and that is to continue fighting for her soul so that it can stay with us forever. Africa has been placed on a pedestal thanks to her achievements and beliefs, we now have to carry her torch and let it light even during the darkest of times like now when she is not with us. Even though it was sad to see her precious smoke rising above us as she was cremated, we are glad that her wishes were honored.

Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori,

Requiescat in Pace (RIP) Wangari Maathai

International Day of Democracy what it means for Africa

International Day of Democracy and What it Means to Africa

So tomorrow is the International Day of Democracy here in Africa .The United Nations recognizes this day as a moment to agitate for human rights, development and peace the world over. Recent events have proved that the rule of law and democracy is rapidly becoming an attractive idea for the masses. The Arab Spring which many have termed as the ‘revolution that never happened’ witnessed the fall of African megalomaniacs and their acolytes. From the tiny capital of Tunis to the city of Bengazi the voice of the people demanded an end to the previous social contract and a beginning to a new one that is more democratic and effective. The rebels in Libya have already announced a Pyrrhic victory and the fall of Gadaffi seem to come as a shock to many. The man who Ronald Reagan termed as the ‘mad dog’ had ruled the country since its independence and was one of the leading voices of pan africanism. Amnesty international has issued a comprehensive report claiming there were massive human rights abuses by both the rebels and the loyalists’ side that could possibly be attributed to war crimes. Earlier in June the ICC issued three arrest warrants on Muammar Gaddaffi in which the African Union has refused to comply and majority of the states have rejected the NATO backed transitional government. Regardless African states seem divided on this issue with some agreeing to comply with court and some claiming that the court has been targeting Africans since its inception in 2002.African quests for democracy and upholding human rights is one major battle that is being fought In Kenya where there is a case being presented to the ICC regarding the post election violence of 2007.Kenya has however attempted to change its unruly past by adopting a new constitution which it boasts to be one of the most progressive constitutions the world over. In other parts of the continent the political contagions remains persistent from Ivory Coast to Uganda. The struggles to contain these countries and ensure peace amid the hiking in food and fuel prices as well as the uncertainties of globalization has proven to be a difficult task for the leaders. The lack of developmental states and active citizenship n Africa is perhaps the biggest impediment to achieving democracy and peace. Duncan Green in his book ‘from poverty to power: How active citizens and effective states can change the world’ describes an ‘effective states’ as that which can ‘guarantee security, rule of law and ensure inclusive economic growth’. He points out the centrality of a state by underscoring NGO’s and aid as a vehicle in bringing about development. The social contract that Africans are now demanding by voicing out their dissent is that which guarantees them rights as individuals through equity and that which recognizes them as subjects not objects.

Despite all the problems good things are coming out of Africa for example an article on Forbes magazine pointed out that if you add up Africa’s foreign reserves they are larger than India’s. In a world where 50% of the population is youth, Africa is estimated to become home to one fifth of the world’s youth by 2050.These statistics can tell you just how central and fundamental Africa will be in this future. Even though we are still politically quiescent, economically we have been placed on the map especially now with South Africa joining the BRICS. Fareed Zakaria, Dambisa Moyo and many other acclaimed scholars have already put forward the idea of ‘rise of the rest ‘as a major shift in global power and influence and in this regard Africa is being viewed as the new frontier together with other emerging economies of the East.

In our quest for democracy problems of development should be addressed in order to improve provision of services to the citizenry. Africa remains one of the continents in the world still struggling with issues of development to this day. An answer to our development problems lies in regional integration, development of infrastructure and initiating value adding industrial development. We no longer do not afford the luxury of policy failures rather we should be increasing safety nets for the highly vulnerable in society. As we commemorate this day we should realize that strengthening our institutions, culture and policies is key in ensuring that our society’s become just and people live in perpetual peace.