The good and the bad in our continent

Opinion and Analysis

Siemens products on sale at a department store in China. The electronics giant will take a first major step on Wednesday to separate its healthcare unit from the rest of the company. PHOTO | FILE 

By MACHARIA MUNENE

In Summary

• Like other budding powers, and with rebased economy, Kenya has become a donor state and has found a niche in modern pan-africanism.

Sometimes good things happen in the midst of terrible ones and depending on one’s vantage point can either be thrilling or devastating. Among the recent was the coup in Burkina Faso, blowing up parliament and creating anxiety.

Then Zambian President Michael Sata died in London. The Ebola menace crossed to Europe and North America in small doses and thus socio-politically affected the non-Africans directly. Subsequently, powerful countries belatedly vowed to commit resources to Ebola’s eradication.

Within Kenya, there were peculiar happenings. Incidents of insecurity in West Pokot, Turkana, Baringo, and Garissa appeared normal. Cord shot itself in the foot when ODM enforcers evicted an official. Co-principal Moses Wetang’ula looked bad at the airport over an ID incident. The Meru issued threats to Jubilee over supposed failure to appoint them to high offices. And Kivutha Kibwana wants voters to dissolve Makueni County Assembly and pave way for fresh elections.

The Burkina coup violates AU principles but it is also a warning to the ruling elite not to push citizens to tight corners. Blaise Campaore’s attempt to have parliament change the constitution to enable him extend his term was the trigger because people generally resist tampering with constitutional beliefs.

It had happened in the US in the 1930s when, after a 1936 landslide victory, FD Roosevelt tried to reorganise the misbehaving Supreme Court. Although the court got the message and started behaving, the president got the flak and pulled back.

It also happened in Kenya in the late 1990s when Kanu members rebelled against attempts to remove the two-term limits in the guise of advancing democracy. The rebellion ensured Moi’s exit in 2002.

Sata’s death in London was an indictment to leaders who have no faith in the institutions they oversee. He was not the first president to do so given that another Zambian president, Levy Mwanawasa died in Paris. Guinea Bissau’s Malam Bacal Sanha also died in Paris while Ethiopia’s Meles Zenawi died in Belgium. Malawi’s Bingu wa Mutharika was declared dead in South Africa rather than in Lilongwe.

Nigeria’s Umaru Yar’Adua was flown to Saudi Arabia and returned comatose. There are, or should be, quality hospitals in these countries to cater for all, presidents or shoeless villagers. Such leaders offer substandard service to their people and still claim it is the best.

Sata’s death also forces a constitutional rethink due to political flippancy that raises question on whether Zambia has ever had any legitimate president. Zambia’s constitution requires potential presidents to have Zambia-born parents and the issue arises because acting president Guy Scott’s parents were born in Scotland.

There being no Zambia before 1964, all people living in Northern Rhodesia who accepted the new status became Zambian at independence, no political leader had Zambia-born parents. On that count, Scott is like Sata. The Zambians are debating.

Kenya’s bag was mixed between security threats and international adulation. The government was seen to act on security as county officials were charged with incitement to violence. Top State officials met at the School of Monetary Studies to discuss the meaning and application of national interests and national security.

Kilemi Mwiria, after the Ameru grumbling, was appointed presidential advisor on education. The big story, however, was the seeming international support for Kenya in facing assorted challenges. The UN declared Margaret Kenyatta 2014 Person of the Year for her unique promotion of maternal healthcare.

Like other budding powers, and with rebased economy, Kenya has become a donor state and has found a niche in modern pan-africanism. It was among the first to give aid to West Africa for Ebola. It offers specialised training for South Sudan and Somalia and contributes to regional security. The UN and World Bank brass know this and they came to Nairobi to offer encouragement.

Macharia is a professor of history and international relations, USIU-Africa