Kenya's Role in The Region (Editorial)
The East African
<http://www.nationaudio.com/News/EastAfrican/Current/index.htm>
(Nairobi)
February 24, 2000
Nairobi - Last week, Kenya's president, Daniel arap Moi, while addressing
the National Summit on Africa in Washington, the capital of the United
States, called for outside help in his effort to improve the economies of
Kenya and the region.
Outlining his achievements in office in a 45-minute speech, President Moi
said: "We have done what we can to liberalise our economy." Some of the
reforms were not easy, he said, but added that he remained determined to
push forward with more reforms.
President Moi also suggested that Kenya should be included in the Heavily
Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) debt-relief initiative launched by the United
States and multilateral lenders.
He told the audience that he leads "a democratic country that stands as an
island of peace in a strife-torn region." Indeed, with the exception of
Tanzania, all countries neighbouring Kenya are embroiled in civil strife.
The president spoke at length about his peacemaking efforts in the region.
Moi also mentioned his six-year-long attempt to broker a peace accord in
Sudan as well as his recent meeting with the heads of state of both Ethiopia
and Eritrea, whom he had urged to resolve their differences.
President Moi's suggestion that Kenya should be considered for inclusion in
the debt-relief initiative should therefore be at least considered by the
donor community.
Kenya, like other developing countries, whatever the status of the political
debate in the country over resumption of IMF (balance of payments) support,
ultimately needs the HIPC debt relief to allow investment in social sectors
like education and health.
Again, there is hardly any difference between Kenya and the countries that
have already been identified to benefit from the initiative. Kenya is a poor
country which has struggled to implement harsh economic conditions
prescribed by the donor community.
It has introduced reforms which have started bearing fruit. The appointment
of Dr Richard Leakey to oversee civil-service reform has produced some
tangible results. The privatisation process of the Kenya Posts and
Telecommunications Corporation is also underway.
The country has implemented many other measures prescribed by the Bretton
Woods institutions, measures which have resulted in social disruption and
upheaval.
Uganda has achieved impressive economic growth rates of around seven per
cent because it was emerging from a severe economic and political nightmare.
So when comparing the performance of the two economies, for example, the
volume of production is an important consideration.
Few countries bordering Kenya have attained peace without Moi's involvement,
either indirectly or directly. Ugandans remember how he brokered the peace
initiatives between then rebel leader Yoweri Museveni and the government of
Mr. Tito Okello Lutwa in the early 1980s.
Kenya at the same time played host to a number of Ugandans during the
economic and civil strife in Uganda; many of them reside in Kenya to this
day.
President Moi is still actively involved in the peace process between Uganda
and Sudan, and between Eritrea and Ethiopia. His call for help to carrying
out reforms should not be shrugged aside. A prosperous Kenya will benefit
the entire region.
Publication date: February 21-27, 2000