Push for United States of Africa goes a notch higher

• President Gaddafi tries to realise dream using traditional leaders from all over continent

There has been a lot of effort in the past to form councils of elders of various communities with the recent one being the Kikuyu council of elders.

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“With its giant presence in Africa the forum for kings, sultans and princes ensures the solidarity and cooperation among the peoples of the continent for the sake of the rise of the African communities,” added the king.

The forum of kings, sultans, princes, sheikhs and mayors of Africa arrived in Kampala, Uganda, on October, 28 from Kenya where the delegates had held a series of meetings.

While in the country, the delegation met with Mr Jacob ole Meron, first secretary of the Ministry of Culture. The meeting, on October 27, was attended by a number of Kenyan kings and sultans who took part in the first conference of the forum.

Recently the Njuri Ncheke elders travelled with Imenti Central MP Gitobu Imanyara to Libya in a similar set-up.

King Jean Gervais, spoke of the participation of the African kings in the work of the coming African summit and the role of the monarchs in achieving the establishment of the United States of Africa.

Remarkable presence

“The United States of Africa is an important thing for the peoples of the continent, and I am not saying that it will be achieved, but it has already been achieved. One cannot hide the sunshine with his own hand. The remarkable presence of all traditional kings in one single place and at one table, is actually a reunification of the United States of Africa,” he said in a website.

However, their major challenge has been to meet the presidents who, he says, are on a tight schedule.

They have been to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, South Africa and Ivory Coast, among other countries.

Mr Phares Rutere, the secretary general of the Njuri Ncheke, welcomed the idea and fully supported it. Nabongo Mumia II, who was the master of ceremonies, hailed the idea saying its time had come.

A Kikuyu elder, Mwangi Thuita voiced his support for Libyan leader and lauded his efforts to unite the African continent.

“I pay tribute to him for his outstanding role and the giant step he made by a reunion the African leaders at one forum,” he said.