South Sudan: Battle has just began

Tomorrow, Africa will witness the birth of the world's newest independent country, Southern Sudan. The ceremony will be the climax of a tortuous journey of a people to political freedom; a journey characterised by a stream of blood, shed by many innocent souls but watered by doggedness. Juba, the capital of the oil-rich State, is already in scintillating mood, as all look forward to the historic event.

The people are excited to sing the national anthem of their young nation; fly its national flag with gusto and spray fireworks to the high heavens. Its colour of black, white, red, green, blue and gold star symbolises people; peace, the blood shed by the people for freedom, the land and waters of the Nile and the Star of Bethlehem in that order.

Perhaps, the credit for the autonomy should go to the Southern Sudan Liberation Movement and its armed wing, SPLA under the late John Garang, who died in an helicopter crash in 2005.

The people also are earning their freedom through resilience in the face of the war of annihilation by those opposed to their unrepentant campaign for self-determination. During the struggle, many lost their loved ones in vicious arms attacks, which dates back to 1959.

For heavily bearded Garang, no other time would have been his most glorious moment if he had lived to witness tomorrow’s event as his people witness the fruits of what he put life at stake for.

The independence of Southern Sudan follows early this year’s referendum, in which 98.83 per cent of the people who participated in it voted for autonomy. It brought to an end the many covert and overt machinations of the authorities in Khartoun and their accomplices in the other parts of Sudan, to frustrate the desire of the people to ‘secede.’

However, as the people of South Sudan celebrate the victory, thy must be reminded the battle has just began. A lot needs to be done. The new country is bound to experience the usual teething problem of a nation at an embryonic stage, especially in meeting the basic needs of the citizenry. Much more attention and energy will be required in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of damaged infrastructure; provision of modern amenities and public utilities.

The State approach to the challenges will test the competence, patriotism, commitment and resilience of those who providence has given the grace and privilege to nurture the young and promising country. How they are able to surmount the challenges and chart a focus for the nation in the coming years will determine their true place in history not just in that country and Africa but also in the world, because of role of the international community in bringing to fruition the dream of Southern Sudan.

One of the key challenges before the leaders will be building institutions that can stand the test of time. Such institutions must be the pillars, which posterity can steadily rely on to build upon in such vital sectors as the economy, infrastructure, education, modern technology and participatory democracy.

The citizens and the international community will be interested in seeing how the leaders entrench good governance, transparency, promote and strengthen the electoral process and guarantee the inalienable rights of the people.

The world expects the new leaders to learn from the mistake of Zimbabwe, which got its independence through a bloody struggle but which has unfortunately sunk into lunacy because of the inordinate ambition of an individual. It will be disastrous if the leaders of the young nation resolve to toe the ignominious path of building personal business empires at the expense of the welfare of the people, which has become the fad among most African leaders.

{Kunle Oderemi, Nigeria}

　

African leaders setting bad example to youth

African youth are in a dilemma. They see their elderly leaders detain dissenting voices without due process, rob the populace through corruption, engage in electoral fraud, massacre populations and even bomb them as is the recent case in Libya.

One would have thought toys and toy games belong to the youthful in age. Not in Africa; young people watch in dismay as leaders play with toys – latest cars, motorbikes, and executive jets.

Hungry and angry youth are left staring by the roadside as water is splashed on them and their skins develop a second layer of dust as their leaders zoom past. Youth in Africa have been forced by circumstances to opt to prefer their neighbour’s parents simply because they live in an abusive and very violent home.

{Jane Shikuku, Via Email}

Maize importation stab in the back

We are currently face maize shortage that has threatened the country’s feeding patterns. Already there is maize flour rationing in some major outlets. Subsequently, the Government has waived tax on imported maize and procured maize from Malawi and Zambia to cushion the effects of the biting shortage.

Indeed, consignments have began trickling at the port of Mombasa with the cereals but still the main question is why should we face such a situation when Kenya has a vast underutilised arable land.

The Government should enquire why Kenyans are gradually turning into small-scale maize farmers, which is partly to blame for the situation. Better still let it learn from Malawi and Zambia and do what their Government is doing that ours doesn’t. We must wake up from slumber and improve our food production.

{Motari David, Nairobi}

Who will preside over Kamukunji elections?

The recent assenting of the Electoral and Boundaries Bill by the President is a great step foward.

The time schedule for the implementation of the Constitution we promulgated last year is very tight and every effort must be made to ensure the deadline is met. Now what remains is the appointment of commissioners to run the body.

Upon the signing of the Bill into law, the Interim Independent Electoral Commission effectively ceased to exist, therefore, bringing in the question as to who would conduct the Kamukunji by-election and other pending civic by-elections.

The new electoral body should be established fast so as not to unfairly deny Kamukunji representation in the august House.

{Onyiego Felix, Nairobi}

Kenyans must stop judging MPs unfairly

It is common in this country to criticise leaders, and MPs in particular. However, sometimes the criticism is unwarranted.

Yes, the demand to have MPs pay taxes here and now is very popular among Kenyans, but is populism the way to run this country as the trend seems to project?

Currently, MPs are under siege from the public for not paying taxes on their perceived hefty allowances as demanded by the Kenya Revenue Authority and matters are not helped by the media, eager to be seen to be a defender of the toddling Constitution.

While it is imperative that we remain vigil in ensuring that our new-found laws are fully respected and adhered to the letter and its spirit, we must equally guard against sadism, unfairness, illegalities and raw emotions in the name of implementing the same.

There is no short cut to due process of the law. What KRA is doing is unprocedural and amounts to witch-hunting. The taxman is required, in this particular matter, to engage the Parliamentary Service Commission which is the employer of the lawmakers.

We may have a new Constitution now but I fear if Kenyans do not change their values, behaviour and attitudes, then our hopes remain a mirage. A look at the way we are conducting our affairs even in the new dispensation suggests that it pays to be corrupt in Kenya.

For instance, the few MPs who have happily glided to KRA offices with briefcases to pay up are now basking in the public glory, reaping lots of airtime in talk shows and Kenyans calling in to congratulate them for nothing but chest thumbing; yet a glimpse at the past records of most of these KRA compliant MPs reveal so much sleaze and corruption oozes through their pores.

Let us be fair to these leaders by simply following the law and logic. Paying taxes is a basic duty of every citizen and MPs must lead the way. Nevertheless, there is a process to be followed to avoid victimising some individuals unfairly.

Moreover, it is to be noted that there are so many other people working with the Government and in the corporate world who earn much more than MPs and nobody is talking about having their allowances taxed. Let’s must be fair.

{Hamilton Parseina, Via Email}

The new Constitution has pushed our not-so-honourable MPs to a corner. The taxman has tactfully pulled out of the conspiracy that they had hatched to defraud us of millions in tax remittances. This tells us why we must demand some integrity tests for future leadership aspirants.

{Nonkwe Nyaima, Suba}

Feedback

Extradition for Okemo begins

They have to return the money before they go. Only this way will we stem corruption, which has become a contagious disease in Kenya.

Abdiwahab Mohamed

They should go there and pay for their past ‘misconducts’. Let their cases serve as good examples of how best corruption can be fought nationally and internationally

Triumphs Ernest

There’s time to plant and time to reap and whatever you sow the same your will reap in fullness of time

Nancy Kidaha

Let them go and clear their names there and stop propagating claims they are innocent here at home.

Kevin Analo

Our Government has failed to act. We wish the UK and other ‘foreigners’ all the best as they try sweep our house clean.

Stephen Kamau

As they start their journeys, let the two first seek Kenyans’ forgiveness

Mathews Jahonga

What is the purpose of courts if we can’t try our own? We have been demanding Devani and Deya for months but suddenly, Brits want two corruption suspects and we are tripping over ourselves happily handing them away. What happened to our sovereignty?

Joe Karuga

They can be tried locally since our judicial system has recently improved

Nesh Kin

Let the truth be found and justice be done.

Fred Amol

I smell a rat in the whole case. The UK action is suspect.

Angelyn Ojyambo

The only legitimate justice is that which comes from within. Blind submission to foreign laws need to stop and those auctioning this country for cheap publicity and international conformity needs to understand that our fore fathers bought our freedom with blood. Only the shallow minded Kenyans are ready to accept external laws to stain our sovereignty with glee!

Kirwa Tuwei