London is Burning, Anyone out There?

A disgruntled man sets himself ablaze in Tunisia and the whole country erupts into a frenzy which ultimately dethrones an African despot-Ben Ali.

Shortly thereafter the Saharan heat is felt across Egypt. Tahrir Square captures world attention as Egyptians pour out in hosts into the streets. In a matter of days another African strong man tumbles from body and soul and finds himself in a cage en route Police Academy to answer to charges.

Libya picks the cue and the Maghreb is now on fire. This proves to be an acid test as the King of the North and de facto financier of the African Union spells doom upon protesters as he opens fire and condemns them as cockroaches. The UN intervenes courtesy of NATO. Rain, rain and rain as NATO deploys its military might to oust this man seen by many as friend and foe in equal measure. As we go to press, the Libya Affair has turned into Obama’s war as Iraq and Afghanistan was Bush’s.

A Divided Vote

Meanwhile, across the Mid East, the desire for regime change gathers momentum as Syria, Jordan and Bahrain enter the fray. The resistance proves tough as the Arab iron fist rulers stamp their authority. Many lose lives as the UN Security Council is divided on how to word its condemnation particularly of the Syrian president Assad. Russia and China, they of ‘non-interference’ policy keep their cool and US’s ally in the East-Saudi Arabia fires the first salvo in the region condemning Assad of unacceptable crimes. The Security Council is torn apart.

For long, and perhaps traditionally, protests, looting and all acts ‘short of civility’ blended with heavy handedness from government has been a preserve of the third world. The developed world must always stand up to condemn this. It is very important indeed that a genuine friend points out your fault.

Enter London

Perhaps it was unfathomable that such riots reserved for LDCs could find way in Capitals of the developed world. Yes, sometimes choose who and how to condemn. This is the third day running as England battles with the reality of a citizenry running amok in the streets of Tottenham, London Birmingham, Liverpool, Nottingham and Bristol. Looting and destruction of property are the major highlight of these riots. Though the rioters are not calling for regime change as is the case in most Middle East and North African cases, it is evident that these protests share a lot in common.

An Angry and a Hungry Lot

The citizenry in the Middle East and Africa for example rose up after many years of repression and denial of many basic rights. The London case is not much different in the sense that the citizenry here have also suffered a sense of inequality but suppressed through hospitality and well orchestrated public relations schemes to portray these countries as no problem regions of world. Interestingly, the protesters in London seem to have changed course from a protest into a looting spree each one helping his or herself with a find. This is clearly indicative of not only an angry people but a more hungry lot than seen before in Europe.

London is burning. Who will fetch the engine, pour on water and offer a hand of help? Who will stand up to condemn what is happening in this once universal empire?

None perhaps is indispensable.

  

The Death of the Paper, the Ethical Question and The Murdoch Effect

THANK YOU AND GOODBYE, was News of the World’s flashy headline as it bowed out. In a characteristics picturesque outlook reminiscent of olden day yellow journalism, the paper bade bye to its loyal and sometimes irked readers and to the public at large after 168 years of concerted effort to satisfy its readership.

News of the World, one of Britain’s most selling daily and News International’s stable came tumbling from body and soul on July 3, 2011 rendering jobless 200 employees and a readership torn apart, the circumstances surrounding its closure notwithstanding.

It was the death of the paper for more ways than one. This has been the paper which has dominated the UK market for many years rubbing shoulders with many a people in the land from celebrities, politicians and all the high and mighty not only in the UK but borders beyond. However, what came up as a shocker to many were revelations that the paper has not only been snooping into private affairs of individuals but hacking on phones of  victims of violence- classical being 13-year-old Milly Dowler who had been murdered.

The Ethical Question

NoW  has for long spurred a lot of debate in the UK and the US on media laws, ethics and regulation. The debate has been a healthy one because the UK houses of parliament have been forced to engage in a national discourse on matters of privacy, breach of confidence and related areas as contempt of court. When the UK parliament tabled the white paper courtesy of Lord David Calcutt in 1990, one of the motivating factors was a result of complaints about breach of privacy, harassment of individuals, inaccurate reporting and intrusion. NoW largely did not escape mention. This debate was the closest the UK got to legislating on privacy,  a worrying trend in am democratic society.

The Murdoch Effect

For a long time, Rupert Murdoch has literally been the man behind the throne in the UK and across the Atlantic-The US. A number of Murdoch's outlets have always served as propaganda machines advancing rightist ideologies-a case in point being Fox News which has been the Republican Party's public relations tool though of late it seems to be moving far right developing warmer relations with the Tea Party in the US. Back in the UK, News International, a franchise of the mother company News Corp. has over the time enjoyed very close ties with UK premiers from Margret Thatcher to later day establishments.

A look at News Corp's outlets shows how much Murdoch has influenced not only those in power but also people from diverse backgrounds globally. A quick search points out the following: 9 satellite TV networks, 100 cable channels, 175 newspapers, 40 book imprints, 40 TV stations and 1 movie studio.  The effect of this empire translates to the following: US Tv newtworks have an estimate outreach of 280 million people, 300 million people by the Asian satellite network while cable channels reach 300 million homes. Murdoch wraps it up with a magazine outreach of 280 million people.

What do all these translate to? The Murdoch empire commands an audience which three quarters of the world population-4.7 billion people.

The collapse of the Empire?

Following the revelations by its rival, The Guardian that News of the World reporters have been engaging in unethical ways by hacking into people's private conversations, the House of Lords has summoned News Corp's proprietor Rupert Murdoch, Chairman James Murdoch and News International's Rebekah Brooks to appear before the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee. With these developments, Murdoch has humbly eaten the pie and closed News of the World, surrendered his bid for UK's most profitable media outlet BSkyB and seems indicative of parting ways with his other papers-The Times, The Sun, and The Sunday Times. There is already a build up of pressure across the Atlantic that News Corp could face prosecution under Federal law based on The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) which outlaws the bribery of foreign officials.

A Call for Media Regulation?

A glance at some of the reactions in Britain following what has now been loosely termed as The Watergate -scale' scandal is quite telling about how much Murcdoch's empire is shaping the British media industry. Deputy Premier Nick Clegg has called for a "fundamental reform" of the British media, based on the principles of "freedom, accountability, plurality", and independent regulation of the press. This is likely to bring into light once more the role and capacity of the Press Complains Commission, an independent newspaper and magazine regulatory body.
Ironically, Murdoch has also sucked in the House of Commons regarding its constitutional authority to summon non UK citizens to appear before it.
Whatever the direction this case takes, a fall or a dent on Murdoch's empire will greatly define the future of the media industry in the UK.



Of Illegal Vows and a Call for a Retake

A retake in marriage for ages remains a no (wo) man's wish even when a life of bliss is forthcoming and an assurance given that old habits will no longer die hard.
This, no longer a wished away dream is slowly becoming a reality in Uganda as the governement declared many marriages null and void. That the many an institution of marriage is an illegality and therefore do not command any legal standi in the event of contestation by any of the parties to the marriage including on property is the more disturbing development among some Ugandan couples.

Null and Void

The development came up when the state registrar of marriages announced recently that a number of church ministers had celebrated marriage without any legal authority, and that their religious institutions had not been licensed to conduct such activities.
However, speaking to BBC's Focus on Africa programme, Pastor Joseph Serwadda chairman of the Born Again Pentecostal churches in Uganda noted that the church's mandate to unite two in marriage is a divine act from God and therefore a preserve of the church. "There is nothing like null and void - they are only null and void as far as the law is concerned, but as far as the Bible is concerned the marriages happened," he told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme.

Fresh Vows 

Throwing the spanner into the works is Bishop Grabe Illukol from Tororo who says he has conducted over 600 marriages in a span of four decades as a church minister. However he admits, that for all this time, he had been issuing church cerfiticates which the registrar of marriages says do not have any legal standing thus annulling the marriages.

Though the Bishop agrees with the state on the legality of the marriages and calls on all the affected to take the vows afresh, his dilemma, he says is the fate of those couples who've died over time. More still, taking vows afresh perhaps is not just a simple legal process but a challenge to the soul and self. How for example does this man of God intend to reconcile couples who've over the time lived not to the first vow however illegal it may have been?



Of a Humiliation Reserved not for a President

 When you are weaker, never fight for honor’s sake; choose surrender instead.  Surrender gives you time to recover, time to torment and irritate your conqueror, time to wait for his power to wane.  Do not give him the satisfaction of fighting and defeating you – surrender first.  By turning the other check you infuriate and unsettle him.  Make surrender a tool of power. Law 22: Use the Surrender Tactic: Transform Weakness into Power  

Smoked Out
The drama which rocked Gbagbo's bunker could not be over emphasised. Perhaps Robert Green and Joost Elffers in 48 Laws of Power captures the intentions and soul of this former troubled Professor of Political Science turned failed president.
How else can you describe a man short of strategy and exposed to the vagaries of a world out to condemn him for his illegitimate stay in power?
After months of whirlwind diplomacy by many a diplomats in Africa and international pressure, the man behind a cloudy throne was smoked out like a run away terrorist wanted for crimes of international degree.
This Man Gbagbo
Now of interest perhaps is no longer what happened thereafter though the very compromising state in which he was caught is rich fodder for the gossip columns.
What endears one though is what makes a man of Gbagbo's ilk degenerate as low as he sunk to defend an already lost throne? It's quite illuminating perhaps to understand what kind of a man this man Laurent "Cicero' Gbagbo is.Cicero, a nickname given to him during his hey days in Sobornne University for his love of Latin.
Skillful Wheeler-dealer
A skillful politician for some, a wheeler-dealer for others, Gbagbo cut his teeth as a trade union leader, an astute academic before plunging into politics. As the Texans say what goes around comes around, Gbagbo's fate was to befall him later in life after muzzling the national assembly to extend his term limits in 2002. This man has been described in many circles in a myriad of ways but perhaps The Telegraph captures it well in this description: A skilled orator who likes to play the man of the people, shedding suits and ties for African shirts, Mr Gbagbo conceals a ferocious will behind an affable exterior.

 Law 24 : Play the Perfect Courtier
Indeed though he came tumbling from body and soul during that afternoon of reckoning, Gbagbo mastered Robert Greene's sets of laws; The perfect courtier thrives in a world where everything revolves around power and political dexterity.  He has mastered the art of indirection; he flatters, yields to superiors, and asserts power over others in the most oblique and graceful manner.  Learn and apply the laws of courtiership and there will be no limit to how far you can rise in the court.

Law 30 : Make your Accomplishments Seem Effortless
Perhaps the wish of every man is that the next person is stupider, and maybe that kept Gbagbo going strong even when the whole world including the United Nations acknowledged his bitter arch rival Alassane Ouattara as president. He kept his faith even when his chances of ever walking a free man once again dwindled. Save for the counsel (of the wicked) his wife, this man seems to have struck a deal with destiny.

The question oft disturbing is, what makes a man at the apex of his life's achievement so obstinate and obdurate to a point when the same things he endeared himself to as a budding politician sound like a gong at the back of his head? It's quite ironical to see a president once enjoying the lavishness of power and all that be reduced into a powerless state suggestive of an urchin under mercies of pedestrians.
Only he/she who has trudged this path before understands it better.

Of a Beleaguered President and Desperate Lot

What becomes of a leader who can't read the signs on the wall? How else can you redeem a besieged man courtesy of his own (in)actions? For a long time especially in continental Africa, presidents have made a habit of imposing themselves on their subjects and having their way without much struggle.

Not Anymore
Gone were those days. Times have changed. Anybody who doubts this should cast an eye on the North and ask not if one of Africa's longest serving(dictating) despots will ever see this weekend or worst tomorrow in the throne.
One of the interesting part of this African story is that presidents stick to power, become so unpopular that when time draws nigh for their forceful exit, their closest of liutenants shun them, castigate their actions, join the rebelling force and pave way for the president's exit.
The examples range from Tunis, Egypt and now Libya.

Of a story with a homeward stretch
Does this narrative sound familiar to the Kenyan scenario? Indeed yes and real. Kenya's even worse. For the three African presidents recently deposed, their cumulative time in office comes to 93 YEARS .For president Kibaki, two terms have made him out of touch with his Justice Minister, Attorney General, Judiciary and obviously the larger public. This is a president whose cards have been exhausted and the last he remains with is a Jocker which of cause salvages not a cards player. The man perceived years ago as a likely master of the chase game has lost it all and employs the last of the tactics available for a man under siege, under the guidance of a desperate lot crying foul of framing by an international court.
Any way out?
What Mr.Kibaki would you consider the best option to deal with this impasse as an individual? I see it this way, that perhaps for the umpteenth time you came to the public to raise your concern about the speaker's ruling, you seemed not yourself. Help, somebody is ensnaring the president, boxing him into a corner, left to throw harmless kicks which cannot even scare a coward opponent.

Watch, Mr. President, hear Mr.Kibaki, feel the mood Mzee and strike that last gentleman's cord with destiny and allow reason and the law to carry the day.

The fellows you sent your ever fidgetty assitant, Kalonzo to beg support against ICC are leaving the stage very frustrated, ashamed and sad. Gadaffi, Mubarak and southern Africa's shame, Mugabe are very disturbed men. You do not want to join their league.

A President confounded by realities of a new constitution he proclaimed in August 2010.

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Ruto's attempts to Dethrone PM Misplaced

Days, and years were when boardroom coups was common day in this country. Self-styled politicians and corporate leaders had developed a rather homegrown solution of dethroning those they found unfit or 'unfriendly' for the positions they held. Notable institutions notorious for this kind of practice was the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce which had come of age in this art.

Last week, politicians, and musketeers allied to Eldoret North MP William Ruto came up with a wild idea of deposing the Prime Minister Raila Odinga as the Prime Minister leave alone party leader on account that he no longer commands political auuthority in the House. The last time one bothered to check with the registrar of parties, one found that all these guys shouting at the top of their voices were still members of the very political party they so distance themselves from like plaque. Theoretically ODM, based on the registrar's understanding is the party with the most number of seats in the 10th parliament thus to insinuate that the prime minister does not enjoy a sizeable backing from the house is fallacious.

Numbers, yes, but.....
In practice, the prime minister has been orphaned a great deal since parting ways with with his earstwhile political foe, William Ruto. The latter claims to command a good number of MPs both from ODM and PNU. That, he says is the numbers. It is on this ground therefore that Ruto believes he has the audacity to dethrone Raila from premiership. What this bunch of renegade forces forget is that the Prime Minister's office is an office set under constitution (National Reconcilliation Accord Act).

Kick him as Party Head but not PM
It follows therefore that Ruto's (or his stalwart's) attempts are futile and only take a man who's just landed in the planet to do so. They can perhaps marshall the numbers, if their claim is true, and eject the premier from his position as party head.

Word of advice
The political machinations against the premier courtesy of Ruto and PNU hypocrites, which by and large has the blessings of Kibaki are tunnel visioned and ill informed. Leave the party, seek a fresh mandate and come back. Acquaint yourselves with The Political Parties Act ladies and gentleman.

Dear Mr. President Kibaki

What, Mr. President is the measure of an educated man? His mastery of his mother tongue, civility, adherence to set standards? Or perhaps ability to articulate issues and present a sober judgment based on an informed decision? Could it be a good legacy for you?To many, these among others could form a bench mark.
Of a rushed decision, roadside declaration
Last week, Mr. President, shortly before you left for Addis Ababa for the AU summit, you scribbled a paper and there we were with the Attorney General, Chief Justice, Director of Public Prosecution and Controller of Budget (all these, provisional). Even before you settled to breath the Abyssinian air, there was hue and cry from many quarters in this country from friend and foe alike. They said you never followed the spirit and letter of the constitution. That you were not faithful to your pledge you made on August 27, 2010 at Uhuru Park.
One thing I understand and would not easily fault you for is that you had a tough date with IGAD heads of states shortly before you proceeded for the AU summit. You had to dangle the carrot in order to sell an idea (described in many quarters as archaic, quite unpalatable and in-congruent with the signs of time). Nonetheless though, you just had to. You had to convince your fellow heads of states that a deferral from the ICC would be a better option for Kenya and the only tinge of evidence that you would be a trustworthy player was to inform them you had even gone ahead, appointed new constitutional office holders, hitting the road for judicial reform to handle the ICC matter.
New Wine, old wine skin
However, what you seemed to have forgotten is that your actions could only have been acceptable if we were operating under the Lancaster Constitution. You did not, or perhaps your henchmen forgot that we had already proclaimed a new instrument of power which tilted the playing field against your actions and made despondency a fossil. Your advisers failed you a great deal sir. They never reminded you for example that the Judges had to be vetted first before any appointment. That is why you justice minister just last week republished the Vetting of Judges and Magistrates Bill 2011 and the Judicial Service Bill 2011 to pave way for this process. At best, you were overtaken by events sir. You witnessed the serving of new wine on August 27, but unfortunately, it was served on old wine skins, you been one this time barred skins. What a waste of a gem!
Lessons from the North
May this be a kind reminder to you sir that there comes a time when people can no longer fathom illicit actions and have to let out their anger. It should not be forgotten or ignored by any one of us that the developments in northern Africa and across the Arab world are not only confined to those regions. It should be an constant reminder to you sir that whereas we may not got the way of Tunisia or Egypt now, it is only a matter of time before everybody shouts at the top of their voices to your chagrin and annoyance and the best you can do would be to fold your regalia and head home wards.

A good legacy to you sir, should be the measure of an educated man.





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What Becomes of Ex-African Leaders?

Despots on the run, arrested and jailed for plunder, exile and/or death? Perhaps the list may be endless. The question still remains interesting to many an observer of this continent. It cannot and should not escape our attention as to what becomes of these men and women who serve in the highest offices of our lands. After the developments in Tunisia which saw the immediate former president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali take to the skies in sojourn for refuge, it interests to do some comparative analysis.

Wanted, Warrant of Arrests
Immediately after taking off, the interim government of Tunisia issued a warrant of arrest against Ben Ali and his family for what it calls "illegal acquisition" of assets and "illicit transfers" of funds abroad.Interpol issued a global alert known as 'interpol diffusion' to member countries to locate and provisionally arrest Mr Ben Ali and six others.

Bedfellows
Ben Ali is not the only one. Other classical examples include the former Ugandan dictator Gen Iddi Amin who later died in Saudi Arabia, CAR's former dictator Jean-Bedel Bokassa and the list goes on and on. However, the most interesting could be the despots currently in power whose exit from power may not be any different from Ben Ali's. In an article, 'Worst of the Worst' Foreign Policy magazine released the list of the world's most awful tyrants and without doubt (politics of magazine's origin aside), out of twenty three autocrats, thirteen are from African nations.
Write books, Build a Library and Leave a LegacyWhile comparison with their peers for example in the US may not be scientific, it is though refreshing to do so. Most, if not all former American presidents resign to writing memoirs, setting up charities and world class libraries for use by generations after.In the fullness of time, some of these libraries and foundations are handed over to The National Archives for example The Nixon Presidential Library. Though former president George W. Bush may have left office when ratings were all time low,The George W. Bush Presidential Library is currently on course coupled with a memoir.
Indications
The current wave sweeping through the Mahgreb region is indicative of a despotic nature of governance which has become characteristic of the African continent for eons. Perhaps this justifies why some of these leaders cannot engage in worthy causes other than fight of litigations, take flight to nowhere in search for refuge or live in solitude for fear of recrimination.

Ironically, most of these leaders enjoy world class treatment while in power, operating on run-away budgets at the expense of desolate and impoverished citizenry. Towards the end, it dawns on them that they may have to spend the rest of their lives very troubled. It's no wonder some of them succumb to death whilst in power for reasons sometimes seen as combined spell.

The Rise of the Incumbents

The recent developments in Ivory Coast, formerly one of Africa's bread basket, with attendant countries such as Zimbabwe is indiacative of a return to the post colonial African struggeles which featured between the 1960 and late 80s.
It is a sad reminder and perhaps a spirited return to the dark ages of the continent shortly after the long fought for independence was attained. This was a time when the dreams of many, which had just come to view were disappearing at disturbing rates as the oligarchs who had just been weaned by the colonial master took over power.

Lessons from Previous Classes

It is perhaps interesting to note that though the tactics employed by Gbagbo do not necesarily replicate the gorilla tactics of the 70s, its inidicative of lessons learned from the over 70 coups which took place in the aforestated period strongly come in handy. The rise of the incumbents would best title this argument.

There is a growing realisation by incumbets of the need to stay another day in power to safeguard interests acquired during the (il)legimitate terms. In a bid to protect these interests-both individual and communal, they have earnestly and faithfully drawn lessons not only from fellow African heads and former but also got inspiration from such other places as Latin America.

The Three Tier Approach

 The tactics takes a three tier approach: Manipulate and own the electoral stystem, terrorise and endear parliament to change constitutional provisions for extension of term limits or as a last resort, act arrogantly, throw caution to the wind  and deny ever losing any elections even when the whole world is cock sure you lost the count.
The million dollar question is, did Laurent Gbagbo have to scratch his head on choice of these options? Obviously not. He only had to engage in a picky pong game, close his eyes and there he was with the third option skillfully crafted as a hybrid system by borrowing a little from the first option.

 Who thou art inspired thee?

But how and where did he get this idea of sticking to power? Fellow octogenarians and faithful students of the yester year schools of politics were a great inspiration to admire. Zimbabwe, which is still grappling with a fledgling coalition governement wasn't far to draw inspiration from. However, research requires a corroborative design and to achieve this end, Kenya, the maiden example of bungled elections came in handy.
Now the irony is that the home of phony politics provides the best choice for African Union as a mediator.
Not a bad choice though as he(the Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga) can apply some of the skills by Koffi Annan to box him into a power sharing deal.

But what becomes of Africa after the Ivory Coast affair? Your guess is equally as good as mine.