WHAT AWAITS AFRICA'S NEWEST NATION?

Free at last! After almost a two-decade civil war,a struggle for liberation and an agitation for self-rule, Southern Sudan is now a nation reborn.

But what awaits the newest  nation in the global map?Has it yet  liberated itself from the murkiness of its dark past?Will it live to its dreams?

These are some of the numerous questions on the monumental task ahead of post-conflict reconstruction that awaits the leadership that takes over.

After attaining their independence in early 1960s,most African freedom fighters in their newly independent countries were fully optimistic that after edging out their colonial masters,they would reap the benefits of their countries' resource endowments  as they had full confidence on the homegrown leadership  in their countries.

Many of these leaders,who themselves weer leading nationalists had the support of their citizens.The countries had tattered economies owing to the destruction that had been caused by the liberation struggle.But this joy and optimism was short-lived.

These post-independence leaders turned from democrats to tyrants,from selfless statesmen nad respected nationalists to gluttonous master minders  and plunderers of their countries' fragile economies.Some became even murderers as they often detained those who criticized their  authoritarian leaderships as well as ordering controversial assassinations of their critics.

Southern Sudan is no different. Entangled in the ongoing Abyei conflict,the rush of the world's leading superpowers(China and the US) to control the oil-rich Abyei region,strained diplomatic relations with Uganda and Northern Sudan,Erittea's inordinate act of supporting the rebels opposing the Southern Sudan government among other numerous challenges,a very principled leadership  with sound diplomatic,social,political and economic-oriented policies is needed.

The leadership that takes over is greatly tasked with leading an enormous task of post-conflict reconstruction in order to make the people's dreams alive for the newly born republic.The Salva Kiir's led leadership must endeavour to resist all pressures that may sink this new republic into yet another new abyss of divided neo-colonial inclinations.

It is such divided inclinations to certain world's powers within a third world country that mothers all her socio-political and economic woes.This as  clearly seen when newly independent African countries were either forced to adopt capitalistic or socialist ideologies.This led to the ever unending internal conflicts within them,most of which had ramifications which are rife even today.

The leadership must adopt and uphold the real principles of participatory democracy where all the conflicting communities must be constituted in the national government to avert the emergence of new internal rebellions.

The diplomatic relations within Northern Sudan,dominated by Arabs is a very critical issue   that is the key determinant of the South's stable political future.

A homegrown solution over the Abyei region is the best.Regional neighbours like Kenya and other IGAD-member countries must continue to act as a watchdog  as this newest nation matures to solve its own problems.The vision that the late Dr.John Garang had for his people should not  be lost lost indeed fulfilled.

Let the dingy past fade away and look to a fulfilling future.Let the once hotbed of civil unrest be an oasis of peace,prosperity and hope for its people.We wish you well,the new republic.May you live your dreams.

Wanderi wa Kamau,

Egerton University,Nakuru.

OF GREEDY LEGISLATORS AND THEIR UNCERTAIN POLITICAL FUTURE
It is no wonder that over 60 percent of the sitting legislators would face the wrath of their electorates if an election was to be held.This is a timely research for Infotrak Kenya.
Former South African President Nelson Mandela once said that:"All great things are simple and many can be expressed in a simple word:freedom,justice,honour,

duty,mercy,hope."
Our legislators have completely failed this country,by just avoiding to do fulfil these simple obligations.No one can deny that.

When the coalition government was formed under the 2008's National Accord and Reconciliation Act,many were optimistic that even though Kenya had just come from the abyss of ethnic genocide,this would be a lesson to our new breed of leaders,most of whom are young learned elites.

But they had little to learn.Currently,the grand conflict is whether to pay taxes or not.Are our leaders neophytes to the provisions of the same law they endorsed?They seem not to be dawned by the realities of the stipulations of the new constitution.Payment of taxes is not excusable in any way.It is obligatory to any state officer.Article 210(3)(a) and (b) clearly states that no law may exclude or authorise the exclusion of a state officer from payment of taxes by the reason of office held by that state officer,or the nature of the work of the state officer.

While the other constitution put the institution of presidency above the law,the current constitution puts enough checks and balances to control the excesses of the executive.

Our legislature has demonstrated untold reluctance in the implementation process of the new law.While the transition period is almost over,the parliament has only managed to pass seven out 50 crucial bills for the full implementation of the new law.This puts to question the relevance of the recently concluded Conference on Constitutional Implementation.

According to CIC(Constitutional Implementation Commission) chairman,Simeon Nyachae,the outgoing Attorney General Amos Wako is deliberately delaying the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission bill.Under the Fifth Schedule in the constitution,this crucial commission is given a time-frame of one year for it to be in place.August is just weeks away and our legislators seem to be unmoved by this.Indeed,no elections can take place without this commission in place and this puts a lot of uncertainties on the political direction we are moving to.

Mismanagement of the CDF funds remains yet another hurdle and massive failure of the sitting MPs.Many of them have been accused of gross misappropriation of these funds to their own advantage and their cronies.For instance,how can a constituency misuse a whooping Sh.34.7 million meant for upholding the lives of the electorates at the grassroots?This is what the National Taxpayers' Association (NTA)recently revealed.

And the 'innocent' drug lords mystery.While a Kenyan-based investigation shows that MPs linked to drug-trafficking are 'innocent' and were 'maliciously implicated to indignation' by an ill-willed Michael Ranneberger,a high-profile United States intelligence has all the facts that lead to our 'innocent sons' guilt in drug trafficking.What a twist of events and an ironed scenario?

At the moment,Kilome MP, Harun Mwau is having a do-or-die battle with the mighty American superpower who brand him as who operate a 'grand drug network' in the East African region.If the whole twist of drugs saga comes out to be true,is this the picture our parliamentarians have portrayed of Kenya to the rest of the world for their inordinate avarice?

While the country is sailing through difficult economic times,with skyrocketing prices for basic commodities,inflation rate already hitting 14.5 percent,succession politics,land woes,blame-games  on constitutional implementation process...and an inconsiderate legislature,who would approve them?

Wanderi wa Kamau,
Egerton University,Nakuru.

TAIN POLITICAL FUTURE

 IS KIBAKI SYMPATHIZING WITH CORRUPTION LORDS?
When President Kibaki lifted up the document of the new constitution and waved it to Kenyans to see,it was a very symbolic gesture.
It was a gesture that heralded a new dawn.It was a farewell to a paternalistic authoritarianism,a monocephalous executive and an incompetent judiciary.It was a welcome of a people-driven governance system where transparency and accountability would reign.

But was this so?Never.These high anticipations have been hijacked by our leadership's reluctance to curb the corruption dragon.For a second time, Prof.Sam Ongeri,the education minister is in the spotlight again-the controversy surrounding the embezzlement of a whooping Sh.4.2 billion for the FPE  programme.This scam raises questions whether the President is committed to combating graft as he promised.Is he committed to adhering to the same law he held and renewed the hopes of a disillusioned populace?

The civil society actitivists have been camping at the minister's Jogoo House offices to pressurize for his resignation.So ignorant to these activists who represent the voices of millions of Kenyans,Prof.Ongeri was quick to dismiss these claims.He seem to be unaware of article 232 of the constitution on the values and principles of public office.Article 232(1)(a) states"the values and principles of public service include accountability for administrative acts"

He should resign, not on the basis of 'political responsibility' but for failed 'accountability for administrative acts' if we were to go by the stipulations of the new law.He should not use the excuse of 'political responsibility sanctify his misdeeds.

Last weekend Prof. Ongeri hosted President Kibaki in Gusii stadium and this sent mixed signals over the president's seriousness on the issue as well as his continued silence.
Firstly,this scam should not be viewed as a political contest between PNU and ODM.Innocent children are suffering because this noble idea has been abused by gluttonous officers.

If the minister is innocent,the best thing to do is to step aside and wait the findings of the  ongoing auditing process of the ministry's financial records in order to win  public confidence.

On the other hand,President Kibaki should break his long silence on the issue for the public to know exactly his stance on this scandal to correct the mixed public perceptions on the scam.

Wanderi wa Kamau,
Egerton University,Nakuru.