Independent consultant and blogger in Dar es Salaam
Look, I have always been very clear about my position: the East African Community timeline is “challenging.” Although the Monetary Union proposition is already enough to give me indigestion, the Political Federation ambition makes me wonder why we do not have mental health screening requirements for key public offices.
The political federation project requires me to believe that our individual countries are fit— or close enough— for such an arrangement to work.
My friends, as neighbours and co-creators of this beautiful dream, the least that we owe each other is the respect of honesty. Our politics suck, and they suck on the civilian side which is where it matters.
Just this last week, Maria Sarungi-Tsehai was abducted in Nairobi. By the grace of her steely nerves and quick wits, the protection and advocacy of the community of human rights defenders both in the region and internationally, the fraternity of the media and everyone who activated in whatever capacity they could, she is returned to us safe.
In the press conference that she held a mere day after her ordeal — did I mention she’s a badass? — there was an opportunity not only to learn about what she went through in detail but also about other similar incidents that have taken place in Nairobi.
It shed light on many things, including the fact that the safety of opposition politicians, activists and human rights defenders is not a “national issue” anymore. We have regionalised brutal repression.
It has been evident for a long time that our governments have a habit of infecting each other with bad habits— internet throttling comes to mind, as does the militarisation of “security” during elections.
But until recently there was at least enough sense to keep the worst aspects of political silencing in-house. Now, a new form of impunity has emerged: cross-border drama. Kwani what kind of neighbour goes to beat their child at someone else’s home? And then you tell me that political federation is going to be good for us? Aisee.
Let us not get to a stage where the East African Community is as detached from the welfare and aspirations of its people as the African Union has become.
Remember how we used to withstand our domestic abuse with quiet “fortitude” like good little Africans? No more. It’s not just mobile money and sacks of corn that cross the borders and bring us closer together.
With every decade and every generation, we travel and grow closer and realise our commonalities. This has always been my preferred approach to knitting us together towards that eventual federation of equals: from the grassroots upwards.
We may have these most recent terrible events to thank for an unintended consequence: More and more of us are starting to recognise our common fate.
The evidence is increasing that if we don’t band together, our individual states may just keep snatching the folks in our societies who defend the freedoms and rights that support our human dignity. Let’s see how we feel about that, going forward.
Let me end by saying that each polity has its contributions to the Community, good and bad. But I think it’s time to acknowledge that there is finally more to Majirani (Kenya) than being the country where Kiswahili goes to catch a terrible case of bad grammar.
For shining a light into the dark pits of our public crimes and leading the fight for justice, for courage in service of we the people of East Africa, I am deeply grateful. You know what you did. Respect.
Elsie Eyakuze is an independent consultant and blogger for The Mikocheni Report; E-mail: [email protected]
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