Some Norwegian lessons for Kenya to foster unity

By Ababu Namwamba

This week I have been quietly reflecting on a past visit to Oslo, Norway, during which I attended a truly illuminating training programme for political party leaders, including interaction with members of the Stortinget (Norwegian Parliament), leading political parties and high ranking government officials.

Norway is a unique country in many respects. With a total area of 385,252 km2 and a population of just 4.9 million, this Nordic land of the famed fjords nestled on the western tip of the Scandinavian Peninsula is the second least densely populated country in Europe. A unitary constitutional monarchy currently led by King Harald V and Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, Norway boasts the oldest single-document national constitution in Europe and the second oldest in the world still in continuous use.

First adopted on May 16, 1814 by the Norwegian Constituent Assembly at Eidsvoll, that constitution was considered one of the most radical democratic constitutions in the world at the time. It remains amazingly progressive, two centuries later.

With extensive reserves of petroleum, natural gas, minerals, lumber, seafood, fresh water and hydropower, Norway has a super high human development index, repeatedly ranked top in the world.

The country maintains a Nordic welfare model with universal healthcare, subsidised higher education and comprehensive social security system. Though not a member of the European Union, Norway maintains close ties with the Union and its member countries. A founding member of the UN, it is one of the biggest financial contributors to the UN, and participates with UN forces on international missions, notably in Afghanistan, Kosovo, the Sudan and Libya.

The capital, Oslo, a nice city of 605,318 inhabitants is ranked a “Beta World City” and is among the most expensive cities in the world alongside Zurich, Geneva, Copenhagen, Paris and Tokyo.

Norway has a history of very special relations with Kenya. In the dark days of political repression, it was a safe haven for many brutally persecuted Kenyans.

Today the country continues to help nurture the deepening of the culture of constitutional democracy in Kenya. While in the country, I keenly observed what makes this unique country tick, and picked up some little gems of lessons for Kenya.

There is this amazing air of humility, simplicity and contentment around the Norwegian people that is just so humbling and inspiring in equal measure.

This is also discernible in the very structure and culture of managing affairs of the country. There seems to be deliberate effort to ensure inclusivity.

Though the country is a unitary state with administrative subdivisions on the two levels of counties (flyker) and municipalities (kommuner), and while the ethnic Norwegians constitute 81 per cent of the population, the tiny minority Sámi people have a certain amount of self-determination and influence over traditional territories through the Sámi Parliament and the Finnmark Act.

Norwegians are manifestly proud of their nationality and fiercely loyal to their country.

A rocky history of occupation and exploitative unions has instilled in the people a strong sense of close-knit nationalism. “Yes, we love this country”, rings the national anthem. And they sure do! The Eidsvoll oath, “United and loyal until the mountains of Dovre crumble”, first recited when the constitution was adopted on May 16, 1814 at Eidsvoll has lived through the sands of time and still defines Norwegian national consciousness.

The royal motto remains simply “everything for Norway”. It is evident in the conduct of Norwegians that these are not just impressive words and cliches. No. The spirit in all these slogans seems to throb at the very heart of the soul of the nation.

Gets you wondering how beloved Kenya would be like if we lived the spirit of gems like “may justice be our shield and defender” in our national anthem... There are equally profound lessons from how Norwegians play the game of politics. Political parties founded on distinct ideological platforms define political mobilisation and activity.