Kenya as country was cobbled together by the British Empire for their own selfish interests. Those interests were served while the empire lasted till our independence form Britain in 1963.

On taking over or forefathers, in their wisdom, chose to continue running the new nation ( really many nations brought together by the British fo make Kenya) on the same political arrangements that were British in organisation but very un African in political culture. They abolished our Kingdoms, tribal Chieftaincies – the very basis for ferderalism – and forced us to accept centralised leadership by leaders that would be unacceptable by the diverse nations that make up Kenya.

I think it’s time to revert to our traditional political organisation, each nation forming a jimbo under a governor (paramount Chief) each with its own government, with elected “nationals” to the central government. In other words, let us go back to majimbo to rid the country of all the tribal distrust, unfair distribution of national resources, and the culture of “our turn to eat” – the ruling tribe’s turn to loot the national coffers for the benefit of only a few within the tribe.

In South Sudan, a country at war for over 20 years, ferdearlism is working well. Each of the ten states have their own parliaments and governments. The central government retains certain clearly spelt out powers and there is no inter-state conflicts. The Governor is the “Head of State” for teh State governments while the National President is the current 1st Deputy Vice President of the Government of National Unity put together via the CPA signerd in Nairobi in 2005. Peace reigns in South Sudan, national development projects are proceeding at a pace that woul shame Kenya, while each state is engaged in local governance and own development projects. A country with more tribes than Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda (put together) there are no visible tribal tensions.

Let William Ruto, Raila Odinga, Najib Balala, Ole Ntimama, Martha Karua, Uhuru Kenyatta, Musalia Mudavadi, et al confine their suprmacy wars within their states and allow others to deal with their own governance issues without dragging in the whole country.

Kenya can learn a lesson or two from SS.

Mathias.

– – –
Date: Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:01:31 +0000 [11:01:31 AM CST]
From: mathias aguta
Subject: Let’s Go Federalism and save Kenya