‘Mindspeak’ and the EAC integration seesaw

I have been writing East African Community themed Op-eds for quite sometime now, and I must say it has been an interesting learning experience for me and hopefully for my readers. As a writer, one is always faced with a challenge of finding new topics to write about each often on a weekly basis. In my world this is referred to as writers’ block. However I have noticed a bigger challenge than writers’ block. My obsession with EAC issues has made me discover a disturbing trend that makes me feel like I am seated on a seesaw in a children’s park. The EAC is in place but the process of integration is more of a seesaw trend. One day we are moving forward and the next day we are moving backward. Almost on a daily basis, I make an effort to comb through the regional newspapers and television stations looking out for signs of progress, as far as project EAC is concerned. Just as I am savouring the smile from a good news story, a sad or annoying one follows. The hunger story in Somalia and Northern Kenya is soon balanced out by the benevolent efforts of people like Ahmed Salim and the Kenyans4Kenya initiative that has seen Kenyans joining hands to help fellow Kenyans. The near romantic stories of clean streets in Kigali and the massive road infrastructure projects in Nairobi are countered by news of devastating power shortages in Dar es Salaam, Kampala and Nairobi. Interestingly the wording also differs. In Uganda it is referred to as load-shedding while my Kenyan brothers chose to sugar coat it as power management! Right now, East African military games are going on in Bujumbura. The people in Arusha (EAC secretariat) have so much faith in these games as far as fostering integration is concerned. Now it is such a big shame that as some of our soldiers enjoy a brotherly and sports moment in Bujumbura, Uganda and Kenya continue to bicker over Mijingo and Ujingo Islands in Lake Victoria. To give a picture of how annoying these siblings’ fight over Mijingo is; imagine Rwanda and Burundi fighting over an island that is smaller than Nyabugogo Taxi Park in size! Today you hear that Uganda Police is on the island, the next day you are told of how the Kenyan army have deployed on the island. Even on a personal level, one is faced with these integration contradictions. One day you are reading about a common market and open borders allowing East Africans to move freely across borders. Then the next day you are before an immigration official and he is interrogating you more than he does a gentleman from Belgium or Angola. On a rather bright side, ‘Mindspeak’ did come to Kigali last weak. ‘Mindspeak’ is a talk show hosted by the amazing Kenyan business guru, Ally-Khan Satchu. The show that lasted over three hours featured President Kagame responding to questions and engaging in an interesting discussion with participants as well as responding to online questions posted on twitter and Youtube. It was the first time that ‘Mindspeak’ was being held outside Kenya and in my view it was the most East African so far. I followed the previous one that featured Pres. Museveni via Twitter. It was mainly a Kenyan event save for hosting a Uganda president. The reasons why I consider the Kigali one to be so East African in package include the fact that it was hosted by a Kenyan, All-Khan Satchu, it had a Uganda Master of Ceremonies, Alan Kasujja and a Rwanda guest, Pres. Kagame. Other key participants were Eve D’Souza, Terry-Anne Chebet, Robert Alai all key media personalities in Kenya. And all this was possible because the president responded to a Twitter request from Ally-Khan Satchu. The president told the gathering that he preferred twitter to Facebook and went on to exalt the merits of social media. He even talked about his interaction with a Kenyan who uses the Twitter handle @coldtusker even at 4am. The key lessons to pick from ‘Mindspeak’ as far as social media is concerned, in my view is that East Africans need to embrace these new forums so as to tell their story instead of allowing others to continue holding a monopoly on the flow of ideas and news. Email: ssenyonga@gmail.comBlog: ssenyonga.wordpress.comTwitter: @ssojo81