Obama praises Kenya’s civil society

United States President Barack Obama singled out the Kenyan civil society and business leadership for praise over their efforts in helping to end last year’s post-election violence.

“Across Africa, we have seen countless examples of people taking control of their destiny and making change from the bottom up. We saw it in Kenya, where civil society and business came together to help stop post-election violence. We saw it in South Africa, where over three-quarters of the country voted in the recent election — the fourth since the end of apartheid. We saw it in Zimbabwe, where the Election Support Network braved brutal repression to stand up for the principle that a person’s vote is their sacred right,” Mr Obama said.

Mr Obama was referring to the baby steps that the civil society and business leaders took to start the Serena peace initiative that finally gave way to the Panel of Eminent Persons led by Dr Kofi Annan.

In his first address in sub-Saharan Africa, Mr Obama heavily criticised corrupt and inept governments all over the continent as well as Kenya, the country of his father’s birth, saying that without proper governance, development will not come to African nations.

“No person wants to live in a society where the rule of law gives way to the rule of brutality and bribery,” he said.

The US President chose Ghana for his first visit to sub-Saharan Africa as an appreciation of its growth as a democracy.

Kenyans followed the address on television as it was beamed live by major TV networks.

The US embassy had organised a post-speech debate at the Hotel Inter-Continental in which the speech was described as inspiring, captivating and intended to comprehensively address the core issues facing the country as well as Africa.

Those who turned out to watch the speech cheered him on.

Prof Macharia Munene, a select panellist, said President Obama clearly showed there will be a difference when it comes to issues relating to Africa, contrary to what US assistant secretary for African Affairs Johnnie Carson had said.

“President Obama has showed that there will be a difference. He has given us hope,” said Prof Munene, who teaches history at the Unites States International University.

Said Dr Ben Sihanya, a law lecturer at the University of Nairobi:

“President Obama has showed his will to engage Africa and to work with it in critical partnership.”

“He has addressed all the major issues facing Africa. I have found the speech very captivating and informative,” said Mohammed Abdulahi, a participant.

“His statement is likely to spur a silent revolution, which can transform or change Africa,” said Joshua Amoli, a youthful man from Nyanza.

Mr Obama said international aid to developing countries should help African countries get to their goals.

“Development comes from democracy and good governance and not aid. Aid is not an end in itself. It is only a means towards building a path that will ensure the existence of everlasting trade with other countries,” he said.

He said African leaders need to stop using their country’s economies to enrich themselves and instead build true democracies that will concentrate on ending corruption within their countries.

More than holding elections

“Development will come to governments that are more stable. Stability is more than just holding elections, it is also about what happens after the elections. Those who lose should heed the calls of the people and not use their positions to wield power over the opposition,” he said.

Just hours before setting foot in sub-Saharan Africa for the first time as President, Mr Obama had used Kenya as an example of an African state where leaders have failed to effectively fight corruption.

Kenya is repeatedly showing up on the list of the most corrupt countries in the world.

The US President used a personal story about his Kenyan family, saying they still live in poverty due to poor governance.

He also put Kenya’s poor conflict resolution record on the spot, saying tribalism and sectarianism have no place in the 21st century and no faith or culture that condones violence should be condoned.