Editor,
 
I have read with great fascination the explanations given by Gertrude Majyambere in her article titled "Rwanda has nothing to sell in EAC bloc? Think twice” carried in your issue of the 31st July 2009. I think this requires a riposte.

Rwanda is indeed richly endowed with innumerable resources, both human and material, yet unexploited due to a history of social disconnection within itself, certainly engineered by the colonial masters of the past century.

H.E President Kagame is spot on when he states in all EAC fora that the greatest of these endowments is the people of Rwanda in their entire diversity and history.  That is primarily what Rwanda brings to the EAC.

For despite its horrendous history, the People of Rwanda display a fortitude and resilience that makes humankind proud of itself.  Which other Country in recent history has undergone the social political implosion such as Rwanda and yet radiate such optimism amongst its population?

But whereas Rwanda is yet to fully interrogate this past history, in each Rwandan the lessons from the Past are etched in their individual consciences, so that there is a clearly discernible and inexorably movement towards the centre, as opposed to primordial desire to separate inherent in all human societies.

This is what Rwanda brings to the EAC Table.
Each of the five countries have unique human traits, which will only enrich the collective. Other economic activities will be driven by this.

In Kenya, there is real excitement about the entry of Rwanda into our Communion probably because Kenyans admire their brothers in Rwanda for the qualities I have described above.

There are also similarities that enhance a feeling of brotherhood between Kenyans and Rwanda.
Welcome to the EAC, without conditions nor hesitation.
 
Tom Marrinka
Nairobi, Kenya
somoinaa@yahoo.com