Day: August 16, 2022

WHY SOMALIS SHOULD BE WORRIED BY MARCH OF HISTORY

Nearly 6 decades have passed since Somalis made first missteps in their attempts to create a strong nation-state. They blame a few things for their misfortune: Neo-colonialism, tribalism and religious sectarianism. They never find faults in their ways of life and attitudes towards collective bargaining. They are adverse to critical thinking and unemotional take of stuff they deal with on daily basis is amazing. They are quick to self-defence and don’t go half-way to consider other party’s interests. They don’t appreciate the ingenuity and entrepreneurship of their rivals in every field of human endeavors. Clan rivalries over centuries had created a peudo-culture of cynicism towards each other. In politics, they don’t agree on anything, even among long-term friends and school classmates. One may tempted to consider this phenomenon as egalitarianism, but think how destructive it may be to discover people who couldn’t agree on their own common good. Many of them don’t understand the importance of these statements and to ask questions about the way they live and upbring their offsprings could put you in trouble, citing convenient religious messages to avoid accountability. They desire for everybody to fail. Isn’t this a recipe for failure for all?

Note, time and history aren’t waiting for you to put your house in order. History marches on with or without you. A nation, nationality and race are like company businesses – if they don’t compete, they die and give way to the rise of more adventurous and successful entrepreneurs. It is already happening here with foreign troops in our country because we couldn’t govern ourselves, we have defenseless, porous and stretched borders with our historical enemies, and unguarded longest coastline in Africa, and most unfortunately, we have merceless extremists tearing us apart and inside out, and with no agreed upon public policy and strategy to fight back. Our political leaders have no vision beyond staying on under their poorly performing titles. Our traditional elders no longer represent fair arbitration within subclans. Some of them desire to keep their entitlements while acting as politicians/king makers, turning famed tribal mechanism for conflict resolution upside down. Our intellectuals produce no more than internet chat rooms to spread gossips and uninformed personal opinions. Our traditional nomadic life is deeply impacted by globalization of plastic vessels (containers) and dangerous habit of Qat chewing among herders. Worst of all, our social sector is broken with education suffering from lowest quality as a result of unscrupulous entrepreneurs caring only the business bottom line taking over with mass printing of fake graduation certificates. Somalia now exports sick population to India, Turkey, Kenya, among others, for basic medical care. We don’t even listen to each other without foreign intervention. We talk past each other. We have been left behind long time ago. Can we mend things together to try do some catching-up?

DESPITE ELECTION VIOLENCE, CORRUPTION AND CONTROVERSY KENYA IS MATURING INTO VIBRANT DEMOCRACY

I was in Kenyan capital, Nairobi, watching the local TV stations when late President Mwai Kibaki unilaterally crowned himself president of Kenya for 2nd term in office in December 2007. It happened in a such dramatic fashion that tallying election results were discontinued suddenly and Kibaki declared president in disbelief! Rival Raila Odinga then, his supporters and the whole country were in shock as they couldn’t fathom what was unfolding in the State House. By eight o’clock local time I could see through the windows of my apartment in Chester House that city streets were deserted for fear of election violence. Nairobi is the home of huge poverty-stricken slums like Kibera whose residents no army could stop them as they could storm the city in protest. The atmosphere breathed trouble for all. Many had lost their lives in Rift Valley towns and other precincts as a result. The controversy and election challenges continued for a year or two, prompting intervention and mediation by foreign statesmen, including late Secretary-General of the United Nations, Koffi Anan.

Looking back at that election incident, one would find that Kenya has history of election disputes and results were never accepted or conceded by the losing party.

By world election standards, there could be always some poll irregularities even in advanced democracies, but the final judgement lies in the fact whether these irregularities amount to a degree that significantly change the election overall results.

Enter 2022 general election. William Ruto has been just declared President-elect, this time by the Chairman of IEBC ( Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission). The Chairman, however, had some members of his team boycotting the ceremony for declaring Ruto President-elect, a typical scenario consistent with Kenya’s election history.

In this election, it is fair to say that there will be protests, even violence in some counties and court challenges, but the election win of William Ruto will prevail as this was the most transparent election in Kenya’s history. Despite its devastating culture of corruption, election manipulation and violence, Kenya has matured into a thriving democracy. Congratulations!