Diplomacy, the way to address East Africa integration

Christianity teaches that leaders are God’s chosen. In the history of the Jews, Kings were chosen and anointed by God. The likes of David and his son Solomon are said to have been God’s chosen. A point was reached where, even though Saul was anointed of God, he lost that privilege. The same happened to Solomon as well. Some leaders are God-anointed but reach a point where they must move over for the newly anointed ones. Well, as we all try to embrace the whole idea of East African Community integration, some leaders of the five members of EAC have continued to disappoint us. The whole idea of East Africa integration is to provide space for social interaction and citizenship within the sub region. During pre-colonial times people intermingled freely; without inhibition and restrictions of artificial boundaries, trading among themselves within the sub-region and beyond. This is what we all expect from the EAC integration. But how do we expect to achieve all these if some of our leaders are not showing signs of togetherness? Leaders, who publicly air tribal sentiments about countries which have not dealt with their underlying tribal issues, aren’t helping the situation. Tribalism has been the major cause of violence, non developments, and backwardness in our countries. Look at Rwanda in 1994, look at the cause of post election violence in Kenya and look at the never ending northern Uganda insurgency. It is that the some East African countries haven’t learnt from past mistakes or is it because some leaders just don’t care?Can’t all the tribes in these other countries prefer to be termed as far as their nationality is concerned than with their tribes? When a President utters words like “are these Jaluos mad?” and “the waters belong to us but the rock belongs to Kenya” and insists that he has no apologies to make, it leaves me worried about the people who we have delegated to make the EAC work. Our Kenyan and Ugandan leaders have not shown the least bit of diplomacy in handling the Migingo Island saga. Diplomacy is the conduct of relations between sovereign states through the medium of officials. It is the use of tact in dealing with people. While Kenyans have been expressing anger and disappointment in His Excellency President Museveni’s words, President Kibaki on the other hand is doing what he does best, keeping quiet. Why should we always embarrass ourselves before the entire world? Given a chance, the East Africa integration is a dream that can be implemented. karuthum@gmail.com