Why Uhuru Kenyatta should befriend Kagame

Today marks the day when Rwandans begin the commemoration week to mark 19 years since the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. The mass killings that were aimed at wiping out all Tutsis happened at a time when your columnist was a Primary seven pupil in Kampala. I was in the same class with two of my great friends Francis Rugema and Oscar Kabatende as our teacher, Mr. Sande (RIP) showed us the cover pages of the New Vision to update us on what was happening in Rwanda then. Of course we could not understand what really was going on then. But having lived in Rwanda and met survivors and some of the killers, one gets to learn that whatever had allowed the events of 1994 to take place should never be given even half the chance to resurface. Never again. Rwanda sunk to its lowest but has also risen so fast that some people may be tempted to think things have always been this good. Indeed, this is the central premise of the commemoration week. To reflect on that dark moment, look at the impressive present and then think about the promising future ahead of us. Regionally, Uganda, Burundi, Tanzania and DRC all know very well what the Genocide against the Tutsis was all about. Burundi is a sister country to Rwanda with similar ethnic composition while Uganda, Tanzania, DRC and Burundi became a home to many Rwandan refugees. DRC later on served and continues to be a home to many of the people who were involved in the planning and execution of the Genocide. On the other end of the spectrum, Uganda served as a home for the core members of the Rwanda Patriotic Front who fought the Interahamwe militia as well as the government that was backing them. River Akagera served as a conduit for many of the Genocide victims ending up in Uganda and Tanzania after being killed and dumped into the water. This is why plans to build a Genocide memorial in Tanzania’s Ngara District, are in the final phase. Over 10,000 victims were buried in mass graves in Uganda’s districts of Mpigi, Masaka and Rakai. It would therefore be expected that this mourning period is embraced by Rwanda’s neighbours and lessons are learnt by all. And this is where Kenya comes in. The recovery of Rwanda has seen many Kenyans and Kenyan businesses setting up shop in Rwanda, giving the country a Kenyan hue. Many may not know this but Kigali already has its own Ramogi nights. There is a very Kenyan club (Executive Carwash). I remember sharing a plate of Ugali and Nyamachoma with my friend Frederick Nzwili, a Kenyan journalist, as we listened to endless Kenyan music. On Tuesday, Uhuru Kenyatta will be sworn in as the fourth president of Kenya. Before he hit the campaign trail he did make trips to Dar, Bujumbura and South Sudan apparently to boost support against his ICC troubles. I don’t know why he didn’t visit Mzee Museveni or Pres. Kagame but that is not the issue now. Seeing that Museveni has been selected to speak on behalf of the invited guests, I think Uhuru is only left with Kagame as the leader to reach out to in the region. Uhuru is going to be one of the younger leaders in the region and in Kagame he has got a peer. Kagame’s leadership successes have greatly been hinged on his trust and use of younger people. Uhuru may need to learn this from his Rwandan counterpart and thus stay away from old horses like Charity Ngilu if he wants to keep his administration digital. Kagame also has a lot he can share with Uhuru concerning the fight against corruption. More importantly, Uhuru is taking over Kenya at a time when tribal undertones are quite high. Yes, Kenya did not explode after the election but the foul taste left by the so-called ‘tyranny of numbers’ is something that Uhuru must address very quickly if Kenya is to work. His win not being an overwhelming majority means he should embark on working with everyone, including those who were not his supporters. In this regard, Kagame is someone he can turn to for advice since he (Kagame) knows very well the dynamics and dangers of ignoring reconciliation efforts and allowing a society to grow apart as one group lays claim to all manner of entitlements at the expense of the others. Blog: www.ssenyonga.wordpress.comTwitter: @ssojo81