Is The Western Model Universally Applicable?

Thinking loudly

‘The banning of live broadcasts should be condemned by all. As information managers we must condemn this action by the government in the strongest terms possible’ – Esther Obachi

In �My views about the Political situation in Kenya and the way forward’, Esther wrote those cited words which also appear on the wsflibrary Homepage.

I am happy that Esther brought out the situation that obtained in Kenya in very clear perspective. I totally agree with that analysis.

However, I have a grouse on the applicality of Western ideals on so called Third World countries.

In Kenya, one of the greatest achievement of the Kibaki administration was the freedom of speech and press. However, prior to and during and immediate after elections, the vernacular stations played a terrible role of igniting and preparing people of their ethnicity for violence against the others. Most were thro’�call-in messages that were relayed live on radio. By the time the elections were found to have been rigged, the only option was to do what they had been prepared for. Certainly, live broadcasts were doing more harm in a state in anarchy than good. This brings me to the question: do the cherished ideals of the Western world such as freedom of speech and press always work for others? While I leave it for discussion, I tend to think that there is a developmental stage that permits such an ideal to work. Absence of that development stage can result in the ghastly results.

I remember former President Moi (Kenya) was opposed to multiparty democracy on grounds that it woud divide the country and ignite tribal animosities. This has come to pass. In his unveiling of the cabinet recently, Kibaki tacitly acknowledged the truth in that view. Considering what happened in Kenya and now Zimbabwe, which may be copied by other African countries considering that Kenya has often played a first one; my second question is: Is Western concept of multiparty or plural politics really good for Africa? Any answers.

Kenyan Crisis.

Still at in Kenya As at this date (10th April, 2008), we are still at it in Kenya. We hoped diplomat Koffi Annan and Tanzania�s president Kikwete and other eminent African persons had done it for us. No, we are now fighting for cabinet positions and degenerating into the ghastly state we were recovering from. Our political class is now jostling for power-sharing in the Grand Coalition. None of them is bothered about the terrible conditions of the masses they contributed to displace, the soaring inflation, the insecurity, imminent shortage of food due to displacement of farmers and inordinate increases in farm inputs and fertilizer prices, uncertainty in the economy and the consequent social hazards. So occupied with who should become minister for what and from which side of the coalition that it is shameful that consideration for, even pretence at sympathy for, the suffering of the masses has been thrown to the wind. Our political elite amplify something common with African leaders: as long as one of them captures power �legitimately or not –�the other will not let go and will incite the country and its misery, lousy masses to tear each other to pieces; if it is sharing they�ll agree to share, but again after serious haggling. If they can�t agree on how to share their power, the masses will be called upon again as pawns to kill each other as their negotiation chip till one side agrees that enough is enough or till the country is completely torn to irrecoverable pieces.

Many thanks, though, to the international community for reacting fast to our crisis. Many thanks to the Ugandan Govt and people. The Ugandan president was the first head of state to call in, and the people of Uganda accepted Kenyans on their soil as refugees. Many thanks to the UN for backing a solution in the strongest way they�ve ever done in Africa. Thanks to the U.S, Britain and other Western countries. Special thanks go to President Kikwete and former president Mkapa of Tanzania. Graca Machel, Desmond Tutu and other African leaders who refused to stand by as our greedy leaders let Kenyan brothers butcher each other for their selfish greed. Dr. Annan receives the greatest and deepest thanks for his perseverance and genuine concern to resolve the crisis. We hoped by now we would be writing and debating about it as an academic issue, but alas. We seem to be moving in circles.

Is it necessary? One of the biggest challenges we ought to be asking ourselves is whether it was worth it. Why would the interests of two persons tear a country apart? Does it help anything to note that our leaders would have had us massacre each other probably to the last man were it not for the intervention of the international community?

Why this Kenya? Kenya has played a parental role for many within the region who faced turmoil in their countries. It has sent its peace-keeping soldiers to many countries in the world. Its journalists have brought the attention of the world to sufferings in other countries. It has been the hub of commercial activities within the East and Central African region. It has been a haven of peace in a region –�except Tanzania –�which has faced political upheavals. Many never thought that the country could become a banana state. But although I wouldn�t say that we have reached the banana level, what has happened is prove that in Africa, any country can collapse to that state due to poor quality leadership accompanied by greedy leaders.

Ethnicity Voting in 2007 provided the people of Kenya a chance to remove bad leadership. People were tired of corruption and arrogance. Most people are poor, hungry and lack opportunity for self-development. From a most hopeful populace in 2002 when the Kibaki government took power, they became disillusioned as is usually expected from bloated hopes. Unfortunately, the masses do not usually know the sources of their conditions. With the professionals, religious leaders and the media playing the ethnic card, the country was divided –�not on matters of fact –�but on ethnicity. Matters were not made any better with the obvious stealing of votes. To voters, it implied they were stupid. The sheer arrogance of the ruling class, together with the apparent ethnic campaigns that preceded voting, the rampant poverty which became a source of active political discontent, the playing of ethnic communities against one another by the ruling elite to ensure tribal support even in circumstances where it would have been reasonable not to choose on that basis (thereby muddling the social conditions) made the meek struggles of the masses to be a struggle for power and resources for ethnic elite. The ethnic elite can now enjoy sharing the power and resources as the masses languish in whatever stupid state they are.

Our role in itEach person has a significant contribution they have played in these circumstances here or elsewhere or in their countries. Many of these problems start within us, and perceptions –�right or wrong –�are formed on the basis of our behaviour as leaders, professionals, models, parents, teachers, writers�name it, in whatever capacity. Do you discriminate among equals? Do you distribute unequally what should be shared by all or many? Would you rather a member of your tribe represent you in this or that function? Do you employ on tribal or other discriminatory criterion? Do you use your position to favour unfairly your brothers and sisters, relatives, tribesmen, girlfriends, boyfriends, mistresses�Do you misappropriate funds meant for all? As a teacher, do you mark on the basis of certain relationships or merit? Do you sideline some people in order to have it all your way? Do you sideline? As a leader or boss, do you treat all equally or do you base your decisions on other irrelevant factors. Perceptions of favouritism or discrimination can ruin. There is a very sound moral foundation in the success of anything. Pray for Kenya.

Title: STRENGTHENING CIVIL SOCIETY THROUGH EDUCATION A discussion took place during the WSF at Kasarani, Nairobi today (23rd January, 2007)on the above topic that ignited some thoughts alongside the discussions.

The fight against repressive regimes can have the challenges of retaining the features of the repressive regimes, i.e liberation movement becomes a mere replacement of the earlier regime with a similar one. This becomes a betrayal of a people.

A civil rights movement ought to articulate different postulates. In order to do this, education is necessary as it provides dignity, means of articulation and self-respect. Education empowers one to speak. Education strengthens the capacity of civil society as it brings diversity. For educaion to have an impact, it should be planned on a long-term basis as civil societies goals tend to be far reaching.

However,in poor countries such as Kenya, the challenge is more on achieving basic rights such as food, water and shelter assuming that there is no internal or external strife. In such circumstances, civil society is not a priority. Moreover, the type of education in the formal learning structure in most developing countries is determined by the government. Curriculum is put in place by the government. Authoritative regimes can use education as a tool for the continual perpetuation of the system. Thus, if education is to have a lasting impact within the civil society,it ought to be liberalized to permit curiosity and a search for better systems. It should open the minds to questions, and justify or challenge held postulates. It should never be dogmatic.

Education also defines the value system of a country's people. While external influencing factors role is not being underestimated here,often the value system depends on how people were socialized through education. If we inculcate openness, transparency, human dignity and other social values in our curriculum, then our products will tend to manifest these values in life.

Civil societies themselves also should show more decorum. African presidents and leaders often question - very rightly so -whether civil societies are democratic.Mismanagement of funds in civil societies, lack of accountability and transparency make it impossible for them to have the moral authority to question the government on the same.Impeccable leadership in such groups ought to be a fundamental pre-requisite so that the position adopted by them is "Walk the Talk".There is also the need to have benchmarks to measure and check the successes or failures of civil societies.

In Kenya, there is the principle of non-partisanhip i.e. encouraging those in civil society leadership to desist from engaging in partisan politics. I believe this principle is good for the society if the gains made, and ought to be made are not to be polluted. The Kenyan case also has witnessed corruption and theft of civil society resources by their leaders, hiring of relatives, divisions among civil society groups along ethnic lines. Ethnicity,in particular, lowers the intergrity of civil societies to a point of ridicule. This is because, as pillars of social justice, equality, human rights and democracy,civil societies lose face when they engage in practices that totalitarian, divide-and-rule governments engage in. The need to re-examine ourselves as leaders and participants in civil society - to be impeccable and incorruptible - is great if we have to lent credance to the process of achieving nobler goals.

Retrieved from "http://www.wsflibrary.org/index.php/FKachero"

I am Fred Winda Kachero from the University of Nairobi. Am a teacher and librarian. It's a pleasure to be involved in this process.

Labour and Globalization

For those who may be interested in labour matters, it may be worth noting that following the Nairobi WSF January 2007, an assembly on Labour and Globalization decided to build a "Labour Network in the WSF". Its working space is www.wsfprocess.net and the group's name is "Labour and Globalization". It permits an engagement of all types of people and is also a source of good information for keeping abreast with trends on issues relating to labour in a globalized world. Some of the lierature can also be useful in boosting our WSF library and I'll continue downloading some of the interesting ones to our collection.