Peace in Kenya and South Sudan is all we need in 2015

Those who love clichés would say the year has gone so fast yet in reality the days still had 24 hours each. All said and done 2014 has eventually come to an end. It has been an eventful year as far as the East African Community is concerned. A lot was planned, said, done but so much more remains to be planned, said and done if we are to achieve greater integration. The year saw East Africans crossing some borders with just their IDs. This arrangement between Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda saved many who were carrying around the bulky temporary documents that I loved to equate to immunisation cards especially for Rwandans. The single tourist visa also came to life in the same countries. On the infrastructure side, a lot happened along the northern corridor with the Standard gauge railway launched with the hope of improving the transportation of primarily cargo from Mombasa port to the hinterland. The pipelines and oil refineries are also on the drawing boards and we look forward to the completion of these grand plans. There is increased trade among East African countries but what is more important is the need to lower the cost of living. The region needs better roads, a much better rail network to move heavy cargo, affordable air travel and more reliable water transport vessels. It is encouraging to know that there are already plans to cut the prohibitive air travel fares. The year has also ended on a very encouraging note for Ugandans now that national identity cards are being distributed already. This ID also serves as a travel document for those wishing to cross into Kenya and Rwanda. The agreement to use National IDs as travel documents had initially placed Uganda in an awkward position with many resorting to very old voters’ cards or student IDs whose validity is often debatable. In 2014, East African countries survived joining the list of countries that were brought down to their knees by the Ebola disease that continues to be a problem in West Africa. I cannot forget to point out though that Uganda lost some doctors to the disease as they did their best to treat others in West Africa. The terrorism in Kenya as well as the civil war in South Sudan will stand out as the bits of 2014 that we would all wish not to find in 2015. Although South Sudan is not yet part of the EAC, it has very deep links with Uganda and Kenya and therefore its civil war caused a lot of pain to its southern neighbours. It is quite commendable that Ugandan forces stepped in to restore a sense of order. This coming year ought to be one of peace because a disturbed South Sudan is a huge problem to East Africa. South Sudan is part of the northern corridor infrastructure projects as well a key member of the LAPSSET project that ropes in Ethiopia and Kenya. A peaceful South Sudan is likely to join the East African Community faster than one whose stability is debatable. More importantly our brothers and sisters in Kenya deserve peace in this coming year. The terrorists seem to have made Kenya their playground in 2014. North Eastern Kenya and the coastal areas have bore the brunt of this terrorism. I have heard that this festive season the crowds that used to throng to Mombasa have reduced drastically. As I was writing this, the new Cabinet Secretary for Internal Security Gen. Joseph Nkaissery was being sworn in Nairobi. Many of us hope that he will do a much better job than his predecessor, Joseph Ole Lenku. In 2015 we should see a safer and better prepared Kenya as far as security is concerned. Burundians and Tanzanians will have elections in the coming year and we simply wish them peaceful elections. In fact the Tanzanians will start with a referendum on the constitution and later a general election that will see Jakaya Kikwete step down from being president of Tanzania. Speaking of Tanzania, the Escrow account saga has continued to claim big names especially the sacking of Hon. Anna Tibaijuka by President Kikwete. Other big names implicated in the scandal are still holding their offices but the calls for their resignations continue. Let me also use this opportunity to wish all my regular readers a wonderful New Year 2015.

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Peace in Kenya and South Sudan is all we need in 2015