Papers by Odomaro Mubangizi
Kabarak University Blog, 2023
The current crisis of climate change has challenged disciplines to traverse traditional barriers ... more The current crisis of climate change has challenged disciplines to traverse traditional barriers in intellectual discourse. This is largely because no single discipline can address the multilayered issues involved with climate change. Catholic theology is not spared this paradigm shift in intellectual discourse. Fortunately, Catholic theology has from time immemorial engaged other disciplines through its social doctrines that engages diverse disciplines as ethics, philosophy, politics, economics, anthropology, law, medicine, technology and natural sciences. Underlying catholic social teaching is a strong commitment to integral human development that looks at the human person holistically –physical, spiritual, intellectual, economic, political and technological. This brief presentation examines catholic theology on environmental protection and integral human development though the lens of Laudato Si – the much celebrated letter of Pope Francis on 'our common home' or the environment. The main point I want to make is that Laudato Si offers the best hermeneutical tool for environmental protection and it also offers a platform for interreligious dialogue as well as an ethical framework for global cooperation around the issue of climate change.
Pambazuka News, 2015
Friday, November 13, 2015 witnessed yet another horrific terrorist attack in Paris. 129 people we... more Friday, November 13, 2015 witnessed yet another horrific terrorist attack in Paris. 129 people were killed in this attack and over 300 were badly wounded. The whole world is shocked at the sheer brutality of such attacks that end the lives of innocent civilians without discrimination. The US Secretary of State termed the attackers “psychopathic monsters.” Just like the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center in 2001, Embassy bombings in Nairobi in 1998, and the Nairobi Westgate attack in 2013, the terrorist attack in Paris leaves many wondering what is behind all this brutal acts by extremist Islamists. Terrorism has even evolved into what is now termed Islamic State ideology or ISIS. Can we now talk of an epistemology and political economy of terrorism? Has terrorism metamorphosed into a complex knowledge system with an elaborate political theory, whose elements have to be comprehended before strategies can be devised to deal with this global menace that is a major threat to the Westphalia state system and liberal democracy?
Poetry from Hills of Kigezi , 2024
Our elders would introduce a riddle And look around for an answer Whoever was ready would give a ... more Our elders would introduce a riddle And look around for an answer Whoever was ready would give a try. Riddles oh applied logic, critical thinking, Innovative thinking And Problem solving.
Pambazuka News, 2018
This article is framed around three important questions: Is the case of Bobi Wine, a youthful tal... more This article is framed around three important questions: Is the case of Bobi Wine, a youthful talented musician turned politician, taking on President Museveni something to be worried about? Is this the case of David vs. Goliath, or even “new wine in Uganda’s political wineskin? And should President Museveni be worried for his political future?
Pambazuka News, 2015
E-learning offers a range of benefits to students and society as it is cheap and based on resourc... more E-learning offers a range of benefits to students and society as it is cheap and based on resources that are becoming more available on the African continent. Rather than solely relying on traditional education, Africa needs to leap forward and realize the potential of e-learning in creating innovators and curbing mass youth unemployment.
Several alternatives have been put across for Africa’s development agenda: industrialization, infrastructure, agriculture, universal primary education, universal secondary education, aid, trade and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) among others. The debate continues, especially after the expiry of the MD Gs. The immediate context of this discussion is the UN Summit scheduled in September 2015 on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). I want to suggest a bold idea of promoting e-learning or distance learning at tertiary level based on the concept of ICT for innovation. By this I want to reduce the SDGs to one: quality and affordable education for job creation for all. We are living in an age of cyberspace where computer and mobile applications are spurring innovation in health, education, agriculture, commerce, banking and technological innovation. But for this ICT for innovation to succeed there is need for a paradigm shift in how tertiary education is conducted in Africa. The called for paradigm shift includes development of online or distance learning courses of high quality that are affordable, since there is less dependence on physical infrastructure, transport costs and hard copy learning materials.
The main argument I am making is that provision of affordable quality education that trains job creators rather than job seekers, other goals will be taken care of as well, like health care, employment, care for the environment, equality, governance, security, housing, food security and peace.
Pambazuka News, 2014
It is Pliny the Elder-a Roman statesman and scholar-who famously stated that 'Ex Africa semper a... more It is Pliny the Elder-a Roman statesman and scholar-who famously stated that 'Ex Africa semper aliquid novi' translated as 'There is always something new out of Africa'. This quotation has been fulfilled by none other than Anne Kansiime, a Ugandan young lady who has risen to great heights as the most popular comedian on the continent in a very short time. Most analysts of the African continent tend to focus on big themes such as regional integration, armed conflict, 'Africa rising', Africa-China relationship, aid and trade, Ebola, etc. But to turn some analytical tools to an individual who has no political clout is something new coming out of Africa. But also what makes Anne Kansiime an attractive choice is an area of entertainment she has delved into that tends to be neglected in development discourse-humour. Does humour play a role in national development? Is there something serious about laughter that some philosophers refer to as 'that madness only found in humans'? The Kiga of South Western Uganda, where Anne Kansiime comes from have a famous saying that 'akakwangyire okaanga, embwa ekaanga esheko', translated as 'What hates you also hate it, the dog hated laughter.' This essay will attempt a philosophical enquiry into the political economy of humour using Anne Kansiime's booming comedy industry as an illustration. 'Can see me', as Anne refers to herself, has entered the world of comedy while there is a lot going on in Africa: Boko Haram crisis in Nigeria, Ebola crisis, armed conflict in South Sudan, rhetoric of 'Africa arising', the dramatic exit of Blaise Compaore under what some are dubbing a minor 'African Spring', and upcoming presidential elections, to name just a few. These are issues that tend to make people get too serious, stressed and worked up, and yet, Anne Kansiime has taken a different approachlaughter as the best medicine. Africa has tried all kinds of solutions to her development challenges-might humour be the best solution that was neglected? Anne Kansiime without employing grand theories and complex arguments, humorously demonstrates that one can laugh all the way to success and fame. Can humour be considered one of the strategies for poverty reduction? BORN TO LAUGH AND MAKE OTHERS LAUGH Anne Kansiime was born in Kabale Uganda, April 13, 1987 so she is now aged 27. She does her comedy through the medium of television. She got actively involved in entertainment industry since 2007 up to now. Anne started her career in Kampala City while doing her undergraduate studies in social sciences at the prestigious Makerere University. From this fact of studying social sciences and then venturing into comedy, it is evident that comedians are born not made.
Pambazuka News, 2018
This My Land This my land of a thousand hills! Imposing like medieval cathedrals Hugging the blue... more This My Land This my land of a thousand hills! Imposing like medieval cathedrals Hugging the blue skies Defying time. This my land of once lash green foreests! But alas now dusty like the Karahari desert Thirsting for rain Under the scorching sun. This my land of diverse flora and fauna! Eshwiga, edodo, ekishusha, eshaga Ancient delicacies But alas long gone.
Pambazuka News , 2015
This year is the deadline for MDGs, and the global community is set to come up with new set of de... more This year is the deadline for MDGs, and the global community is set to come up with new set of development goals SGs in September at UN summit in New York. The Addis Ababa 3rd International Conference on Finance for Development held last week laid a foundation for further conversation on how to end extreme poverty and pursue the other post-MDG goals. The third international conference on Finance for Development (FfD3) started in the Ethiopian Capital Addis Ababa, on 13 July 2015 and ended on 16 July 2015. The global conference, the first on the African continent, attracted close to 5000 delegates from all over the world. Delegates included heads of state; ministers of finance, foreign affairs, and development cooperation; representatives of civil society organizations; and the business sector. This goes to demonstrate how the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals are being taken seriously. The choice of Addis as a venue for this phenomenal international conference was well justified: Addis Ababa is a very secure city and is home to major international organizations such as the AU and UNECA. It has excellent infrastructure and can clearly serve as a model of how finances put to good use can stimulate massive investments and urban development, as well as being a hub and meeting point for the greater Horn of Africa, within the large regional blocks of Eastern African Community (even though Ethiopia is not yet a member) and COMESA. All the major international hotels in Addis were awash with activities as side events were spread across the city: the Radison Blu Hotel, Hilton Hotel, Jupiter Hotel, Hotel Intercontinental, and so on. What is the major scope of FfD3? The UN General Assembly resolutions (68/204 and 68/279) that specified the terms of reference of the conference identified three main areas of focus:
Institute of Security Studies Policy Brief, 2018
The Horn of Africa is the most complex geopolitical phenomenon in the world, with a plethora of c... more The Horn of Africa is the most complex geopolitical phenomenon in the world, with a plethora of cross-border conflict systems, which give it a strategic location in global geopolitics. However, the great geopolitical potential of the Horn of Africa is undermined by a lack of consistent and unified geopolitical architecture due to contradictory ideologies, colonial legacies, state fragility, ethnic and religious extremism, and inconsistent and contradictory models of regional integration. There is need for a new geopolitical architecture (NGA) that includes a coordinated preventive security architecture (PSA) among the various countries of this conflictprone region. This preventive security architecture is premised on a new conception of security anchored on three crucial pillars: inclusive political and economic participation; state cohesion; a robust regional integration or cross-border cooperation. This new paradigm for geopolitics and security combines hybrid elements of both negative (armed interventions to secure peace or territorial integrity) and positive peace, considering security not as an event but as a process just like nation-building. The policy brief will address issues of contested states, sovereignty, competing geopolitical interests and ineffective and contradictory regional integration frameworks, relying on African-centered solutions. The major policy recommendation is for the Horn of Africa countries to cooperate in the utilization of the strategic resources such as the Nile, Lake Victoria, the Red Sea, cross-border infrastructure, new RECs architecture, and human capital-demographic dividend, tourism and security framework.
Odomaro Mubangizi, 2018
The essay seeks to bridge the gap between the concept of God and the worldly concepts of politica... more The essay seeks to bridge the gap between the concept of God and the worldly concepts of political economy by using a pan-African framework to conceptualize God as a global public good.
Who are you that look half-human and half-machine? Your eyes like neon bulbs beaming with bright ... more Who are you that look half-human and half-machine? Your eyes like neon bulbs beaming with bright light; Your ears stretched like television masts-Gathering waves of abundant and unlimited data. Who are you that look half-human and half-machine? Your head like a desktop mounted on the shoulders; Upward bound hugging the blue skies-Powered by the ever-radiant sun. Who are you that look half-human and half-machine? You never get hungry since you never feed;
Soccer is a global phenomenon with enormous political and economic potential, and those who inves... more Soccer is a global phenomenon with enormous political and economic potential, and those who invest massively in it, will reap great economic, social, political and cultural benefits.
Currently there is much talk about Artificial Intelligence (AI), with regard to its disruptive na... more Currently there is much talk about Artificial Intelligence (AI), with regard to its disruptive nature. There is legitimate fear that many people will lose jobs to more sophisticated robots that will be more effective and less expensive in doing tasks that were hitherto an exclusive reserve of humans. However, some more optimistic enthusiasts of digital technology are seeing great promise in AI and consider it the best thing to ever happen in the history of technological innovation. Clearly AI has ushered in a new paradigm that will have unprecedented impact on political economy and theological discourse. If machines can be taught the way we teach human beings, this innovation will raise serious questions about the interaction between machines and human beings, and consequently pose theological and ethical issues. Can a humanoid robot that makes decisions and “thinks” be accorded rights and responsibilities? If a humanoid robot does harm to people, can it be held liable? If a machine can perform intelligent tasks better than human beings, how will this affect theological anthropology? This paper will attempt to address these issues from a political economic and theological perspective, and from the perspective of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin and African cosmology. I will argue that African cosmology and metaphysics that have some similarities with Teilhard de Chardin’s concepts of cosmic Christ and complexity consciousness, are better theoretical frameworks for gaining a deeper understanding of AI. Rather than get alarmed about AI, if well understood, it can help solve some of the complex social issues facing the 21st century such as extreme poverty, inequality, disease, bad governance, illiteracy, unemployment and armed conflicts.
Key Words: AI, cosmic Christ, 4IR, political economy, African cosmology, theological anthropology.
The Pope’s visit was not just about Africa. He used Africa as a platform to air his views of glob... more The Pope’s visit was not just about Africa. He used Africa as a platform to air his views of global concern. The Pope was basically pleading the cause of Africa before the international community, but also assuring the ordinary African people that he is on their side.
Many black South Africans are yet to enjoy the freedom dividend. This is the primary source of th... more Many black South Africans are yet to enjoy the freedom dividend. This is the primary source of their frustration that needs to be addressed urgently. As one of Africa’s leading nations, the country should also intensify its efforts to realize the dream of pan-Africanism.
has used his soft power to speak progressively against an international system that creates and m... more has used his soft power to speak progressively against an international system that creates and maintains economic inequality and poverty. This year the pope is expected to travel to Africa-a much needed visit for Africans of all faiths as it will once again remind the world of persistent injustices as well as the vast potential of the continent. A recent Pambazuka News issue carried an article by the world reknown scholar-activist Prof Yash Tandon discussing Pope Francis' ideas on global poverty as contained in his encyclical (papal letters addressed to the church and the world) 'The Joy of the Gospel'. Prof Tandon makes an accurate analysis of the Pope's critique of the global international system that creates too much wealth while leaving many people wallowing in abject poverty. This critique of the global system has left some champions of unbridled free market economy uncomfortable, since their economic theories are challenged as not being the best solution to solve global poverty. Now that even secular scholars like Prof Tandon have developed an intellectual interest in Pope Francis's ideas, it is high time we looked more closely at the deeper insights informing the Supreme Pontiff's bold claims and massive global following even among non-Christians. The theory that will inform this discussion is that of Joseph Nye known as 'Soft power'-the ability to attract-as opposed to the 'hard power' of economics and militarism or force. Clearly, Pope Francis has demonstrated a rare skill to wield soft power in a world facing the crisis of the international order. The second conceptual framework that can help us understand Pope Francis' global appeal is that of global governance, that recognizes the fact that non-state actors are now part and parcel of the governance architecture, crucial among these actors being faith-based organizations, among which the Roman Catholic Church occupies a strategic position. Why does Pope Francis capture the imagination of vast audiences across the globe as he travels to different parts of the world? Why do the statements he makes leave a deep and lasting impression in the minds and hearts of millions if not billions of people? ARE WE FACING A CRISIS OF THE INTERNATIONAL ORDER? Francis Fukuyama announced the "end of history" celebrating the triumph of liberal democracy and the free market over communism and state controlled economies. This triumphalism was short-lived when fundamentalist groups rose to the occasion with the
Political hermeneutics of Uhuraila Handshake: A new democratic dispensation?
Printer-friendly ver... more Political hermeneutics of Uhuraila Handshake: A new democratic dispensation?
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Photo credit: Citizen TV
Odomaro Mubangizi
Jan 19, 2019
Reflecting on the 9 March 2018 handshake between Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and leader Raila Odinga, the author wonders if that reconciliatory moment ushered in a new democratic dispensation in Kenya.
Introduction
As many analysts had rightly predicted, the much-talked about handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and the self-acclaimed People’s President Raila Odinga that took place on 9 March 2018, has refused to go away. On the contrary, it has continued to colour the political narrative and imagination of Kenyan politics close to ten months after. Both local and international observers of Kenyan politics have kept wondering what was it the “handshake”. Recently, turns and twists have happened and pieces are beginning to fall into place, such that we can safely present some coherent political hermeneutics of the Uhuraila Handshake. Political entrepreneurs both at home and abroad can start strategising if they want to remain relevant in Kenya’s unfolding new political dispensation. Is Kenya poised for a new democratic dispensation ushered in by the reconciliatory handshake?
Current earth-shaking developments and fall-outs
The Uhuraila Handshake recently took a new dramatic twist when Raila was celebrating his birthday in the costal city of Mombasa. It happened when President Uhuru Kenyatta was supposedly having his vacation in Mombasa. The two shakers and movers of Kenya’s politics were seen offering each other a birthday cake. Joho the Governor of Mombasa, Nsoko, Najib Balala, among other political figures were present at the celebration. This celebrative mood provided a great opportunity for President Uhuru to shower Raila with praises and call for national reconciliation while insisting that the national resources should be equitably shared by all regions of the country. This was in response to ethnic chauvinists from Central Kenya who have been accusing President Uhuru for not doing much for his “political base.” This line of thinking, President Uhuru has rightly rubbished as dangerous and not in-keeping with his philosophy of the Bridge-Building Initiative. To show his anger he has even used undiplomatic words such as “Washenzi”(Swahili for fools) to refer to those who are still playing an ethnic card.
But the most dramatic event of all is the fall-out by David Murethi, one prominent Jubilee (ruling party) politician who took initiative to stop Vice President William Ruto from his 2022 presidential bid. David Murethi has since resigned but his campaign to stop Ruto’s presidential bid has continued. Meanwhile, a good number of Central Jubilee politicians are breathing fire protesting what they consider as President Uhuru’s soft spot for Raila Odinga. It is likely that more political fall-outs will happen as Kenya’s political temperatures continue to rise.
Two competing political narratives: Business as usual or a new democratic dispensation
Those who watch Kenya’s politics keenly know a few rules of thumb or political dogmas. First, that Kenyans love politicking such that as soon elections are over, politicking begins all over again. Second, that political parties are creatures of convenience and political expedience—once elections are over, political parties crumble and new ones are formed just as new elections approach. This political phenomena is not found anywhere on the planet with such intensity and predictability. Since 2002 no one easily recalls how many and what political parties have been formed in Kenya. We have had Coalition for Reform and Democracy, Orange Democratic Movement, Safina, Party of National Unity, Jubilee, the National Super Alliance, and many more will come before 2019 ends. What is constant are the politicians and not the political parties.
There is a section of Kenyans who are tired of the never-ending politicking that is ethnic based. To decongest power from the centre, devolution was tried but it has not gone far enough to end corruption and politics of exclusion. This is probably why President Uhuru Kenyatta and his new political ally Raila Odinga are now preaching the Gospel of Building Bridges and the reconciliatory handshake. You are either with them or against them. Period. Before the handshake the country was on the verge of collapsing and the economy was badly hurting. This new thinking holds some promise for a new democratic dispensation in Kenya. It stands for a new political thought of inclusive nation building and participation by all in the affairs of running the state. President Uhuru and Raila Odinga know too well how politics of exclusion and marginalisation has engendered turbulent times for Kenya. They seem to be saying: “Enough is enough.”
On the other hand, there are those who think “politics of Kenya should remain as has been and ever shall be, world without end Amen.” This school of thought still thinks along ethnic lines and defines the state as an arena of ethnic contestation when people take turns to share the spoils or the cake. This school of thought considers political corruption as a norm and the winner, regardless of who he or she wins, takes all.
The two political standards are now competing for the political soul of Kenya. It will be bloody and hopefully, something good will emerge. Having decentralised power a bit through the Country system, there is now a feeling that the there is another barrier, namely too much power in the presidency. This is why there is a discussion going on about a referendum to create several subunits of power. Why not several Vice Presidents and a Prime Minister? It comes as no surprise that both President Uhuru and his new political ally Raila Odinga seem to support the idea of this new political engineering and the need for referendum. On the other hand, the Vice President William Ruto is opposed to this move. Draw your own conclusions.
What about 2022?
Whether we like it or not, 2022 is already shaping the day-to-day political discourse in Kenya. Any action by key politicians is interpreted from the perspective of 2022. Both President Uhuru and Raila Odinga seem to be saying that urgent issues of development should take centre stage and wait a bit for 2022 politicking when the right time arrives. The Ruto camp seem to be concerned about the current trend of things that seem to put Raila Odinga into the limelight as he is constantly being seen next to President Uhuru at major public events. As the saying goes, “actions speak louder than words.”
Is the handshake then connected to 2022? One has to have a special skill to interpret political symbolism to unravel what is in the handshake. What do we know about the handshake so as to predict its implications for 2022? It has persisted. It has attracted much attention even globally. It gets expressed in other ways such as sharing a cake, appearing on public events, and in having common vies about key national questions. You do not need to be a political psychologist to be able to read the chemistry exuding from the body language between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga. When you see their beaming faces during public rallies, you can only arrive at one conclusion: this is a political romance made in heaven.
Legacy politics: What and whose legacy?
A saying goes: “Politicians think of the next election, statesmen think of the next generation.” What is going on in President Uhuru’s mind as all this drama is unfolding? First, is his legacy for Kenya. The big four agenda is part of this. Anything that will derail this process is political anathema. What is Vice President William Ruto thinking about? Clearly 2022 and his legacy thereafter. What is Raila Odinga thinking about? Clearly 2022 and his legacy thereafter. Add these political equations together and you will know why between now and 2022 Kenya will have a type of politics we have not known before.
These conflicting and competing legacies and political agendas are hard to resolve. This is why they form a script for a very exciting political drama that will begin to unfold during the first quarter of 2019. We can use a SWOT [strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats] analysis to shed some light on this.
Kenya has some strength to weather the political storm that might be brewing. What are they? Kenya so far has a vibrant media both conventional and social. Even though the quality of media outlets has declined a bit, generally they media is independent and offers objective and evidence-based analysis. Kenya has a vibrant private and informal sector that enables citizens to go about their daily business without needlessly relying on the state for hand-outs. The Kenyan citizenry is generally well-informed and confident about their political rights. Kenya has the strongest economy in the Eastern Africa region.
Weaknesses include too much politicking; ethnicised politics; weak political parties that keep on fragmenting; and dynastic politics. Opportunities include: free and frank dialogue among all stakeholders; devolved system of governance; relatively strong civil society organisations; increasing critique of ethnic-based politics. Some threats are: tendency to resort to violence in settling political scores; unresolved political grievances; endemic corruption in the public sector; insecurity caused by terrorist groups.
What Kenya needs is to address these weaknesses and threats while maximising the strengths and opportunities. Whoever wishes to take over power in Kenya should ask a sincere question on whether he or she is ready to transcend the weaknesses and threats that the country faces. Might the Uhuraila Handshake be a small gesture to address some of the weaknesses and threats that the Kenyan polity is facing? Only time will tell.
Odomaro Mubangizi, 2016
The handshake between Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga on Friday 9 March 2018 shocked and surprise... more The handshake between Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga on Friday 9 March 2018 shocked and surprised their respective supporters. What has left many dumbfounded is the fact that the other major key political players of both Jubilee and National Super Alliance were not privy to this meeting of the two hitherto political nemeses. Is it the beginning of a true national reconciliation process?
Odomaro Mubangizi, 2018
The paper discusses the intellectual legacy of Samir Amin and his critique of global capitalism a... more The paper discusses the intellectual legacy of Samir Amin and his critique of global capitalism and neocolonialism. His major works are discussed in the context of the continued challenges that Africa faces in an era of globalization.
Hekima Review, Oct 1, 2007
African social, political and economic contexts as well as the need for a relevant ecclesiology d... more African social, political and economic contexts as well as the need for a relevant ecclesiology demand a new model of Church as liberator. This model calllls for a conversion that embraces structural transformation. Unjust structures and attitudes that need transformation include ethnocentrism, cooptation by the state, and apathy. For this model to succeed, the Church has to be in solidarity with the poor and marginalized, engage in praxis, engage Small Christian Communities and train the clergy and religious in social analysis. The process of social, economic and political liberation can only be compl ete if it empowers youth and women.
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Papers by Odomaro Mubangizi
Several alternatives have been put across for Africa’s development agenda: industrialization, infrastructure, agriculture, universal primary education, universal secondary education, aid, trade and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) among others. The debate continues, especially after the expiry of the MD Gs. The immediate context of this discussion is the UN Summit scheduled in September 2015 on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). I want to suggest a bold idea of promoting e-learning or distance learning at tertiary level based on the concept of ICT for innovation. By this I want to reduce the SDGs to one: quality and affordable education for job creation for all. We are living in an age of cyberspace where computer and mobile applications are spurring innovation in health, education, agriculture, commerce, banking and technological innovation. But for this ICT for innovation to succeed there is need for a paradigm shift in how tertiary education is conducted in Africa. The called for paradigm shift includes development of online or distance learning courses of high quality that are affordable, since there is less dependence on physical infrastructure, transport costs and hard copy learning materials.
The main argument I am making is that provision of affordable quality education that trains job creators rather than job seekers, other goals will be taken care of as well, like health care, employment, care for the environment, equality, governance, security, housing, food security and peace.
Key Words: AI, cosmic Christ, 4IR, political economy, African cosmology, theological anthropology.
Printer-friendly versionSend by emailPDF version
Photo credit: Citizen TV
Odomaro Mubangizi
Jan 19, 2019
Reflecting on the 9 March 2018 handshake between Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and leader Raila Odinga, the author wonders if that reconciliatory moment ushered in a new democratic dispensation in Kenya.
Introduction
As many analysts had rightly predicted, the much-talked about handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and the self-acclaimed People’s President Raila Odinga that took place on 9 March 2018, has refused to go away. On the contrary, it has continued to colour the political narrative and imagination of Kenyan politics close to ten months after. Both local and international observers of Kenyan politics have kept wondering what was it the “handshake”. Recently, turns and twists have happened and pieces are beginning to fall into place, such that we can safely present some coherent political hermeneutics of the Uhuraila Handshake. Political entrepreneurs both at home and abroad can start strategising if they want to remain relevant in Kenya’s unfolding new political dispensation. Is Kenya poised for a new democratic dispensation ushered in by the reconciliatory handshake?
Current earth-shaking developments and fall-outs
The Uhuraila Handshake recently took a new dramatic twist when Raila was celebrating his birthday in the costal city of Mombasa. It happened when President Uhuru Kenyatta was supposedly having his vacation in Mombasa. The two shakers and movers of Kenya’s politics were seen offering each other a birthday cake. Joho the Governor of Mombasa, Nsoko, Najib Balala, among other political figures were present at the celebration. This celebrative mood provided a great opportunity for President Uhuru to shower Raila with praises and call for national reconciliation while insisting that the national resources should be equitably shared by all regions of the country. This was in response to ethnic chauvinists from Central Kenya who have been accusing President Uhuru for not doing much for his “political base.” This line of thinking, President Uhuru has rightly rubbished as dangerous and not in-keeping with his philosophy of the Bridge-Building Initiative. To show his anger he has even used undiplomatic words such as “Washenzi”(Swahili for fools) to refer to those who are still playing an ethnic card.
But the most dramatic event of all is the fall-out by David Murethi, one prominent Jubilee (ruling party) politician who took initiative to stop Vice President William Ruto from his 2022 presidential bid. David Murethi has since resigned but his campaign to stop Ruto’s presidential bid has continued. Meanwhile, a good number of Central Jubilee politicians are breathing fire protesting what they consider as President Uhuru’s soft spot for Raila Odinga. It is likely that more political fall-outs will happen as Kenya’s political temperatures continue to rise.
Two competing political narratives: Business as usual or a new democratic dispensation
Those who watch Kenya’s politics keenly know a few rules of thumb or political dogmas. First, that Kenyans love politicking such that as soon elections are over, politicking begins all over again. Second, that political parties are creatures of convenience and political expedience—once elections are over, political parties crumble and new ones are formed just as new elections approach. This political phenomena is not found anywhere on the planet with such intensity and predictability. Since 2002 no one easily recalls how many and what political parties have been formed in Kenya. We have had Coalition for Reform and Democracy, Orange Democratic Movement, Safina, Party of National Unity, Jubilee, the National Super Alliance, and many more will come before 2019 ends. What is constant are the politicians and not the political parties.
There is a section of Kenyans who are tired of the never-ending politicking that is ethnic based. To decongest power from the centre, devolution was tried but it has not gone far enough to end corruption and politics of exclusion. This is probably why President Uhuru Kenyatta and his new political ally Raila Odinga are now preaching the Gospel of Building Bridges and the reconciliatory handshake. You are either with them or against them. Period. Before the handshake the country was on the verge of collapsing and the economy was badly hurting. This new thinking holds some promise for a new democratic dispensation in Kenya. It stands for a new political thought of inclusive nation building and participation by all in the affairs of running the state. President Uhuru and Raila Odinga know too well how politics of exclusion and marginalisation has engendered turbulent times for Kenya. They seem to be saying: “Enough is enough.”
On the other hand, there are those who think “politics of Kenya should remain as has been and ever shall be, world without end Amen.” This school of thought still thinks along ethnic lines and defines the state as an arena of ethnic contestation when people take turns to share the spoils or the cake. This school of thought considers political corruption as a norm and the winner, regardless of who he or she wins, takes all.
The two political standards are now competing for the political soul of Kenya. It will be bloody and hopefully, something good will emerge. Having decentralised power a bit through the Country system, there is now a feeling that the there is another barrier, namely too much power in the presidency. This is why there is a discussion going on about a referendum to create several subunits of power. Why not several Vice Presidents and a Prime Minister? It comes as no surprise that both President Uhuru and his new political ally Raila Odinga seem to support the idea of this new political engineering and the need for referendum. On the other hand, the Vice President William Ruto is opposed to this move. Draw your own conclusions.
What about 2022?
Whether we like it or not, 2022 is already shaping the day-to-day political discourse in Kenya. Any action by key politicians is interpreted from the perspective of 2022. Both President Uhuru and Raila Odinga seem to be saying that urgent issues of development should take centre stage and wait a bit for 2022 politicking when the right time arrives. The Ruto camp seem to be concerned about the current trend of things that seem to put Raila Odinga into the limelight as he is constantly being seen next to President Uhuru at major public events. As the saying goes, “actions speak louder than words.”
Is the handshake then connected to 2022? One has to have a special skill to interpret political symbolism to unravel what is in the handshake. What do we know about the handshake so as to predict its implications for 2022? It has persisted. It has attracted much attention even globally. It gets expressed in other ways such as sharing a cake, appearing on public events, and in having common vies about key national questions. You do not need to be a political psychologist to be able to read the chemistry exuding from the body language between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga. When you see their beaming faces during public rallies, you can only arrive at one conclusion: this is a political romance made in heaven.
Legacy politics: What and whose legacy?
A saying goes: “Politicians think of the next election, statesmen think of the next generation.” What is going on in President Uhuru’s mind as all this drama is unfolding? First, is his legacy for Kenya. The big four agenda is part of this. Anything that will derail this process is political anathema. What is Vice President William Ruto thinking about? Clearly 2022 and his legacy thereafter. What is Raila Odinga thinking about? Clearly 2022 and his legacy thereafter. Add these political equations together and you will know why between now and 2022 Kenya will have a type of politics we have not known before.
These conflicting and competing legacies and political agendas are hard to resolve. This is why they form a script for a very exciting political drama that will begin to unfold during the first quarter of 2019. We can use a SWOT [strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats] analysis to shed some light on this.
Kenya has some strength to weather the political storm that might be brewing. What are they? Kenya so far has a vibrant media both conventional and social. Even though the quality of media outlets has declined a bit, generally they media is independent and offers objective and evidence-based analysis. Kenya has a vibrant private and informal sector that enables citizens to go about their daily business without needlessly relying on the state for hand-outs. The Kenyan citizenry is generally well-informed and confident about their political rights. Kenya has the strongest economy in the Eastern Africa region.
Weaknesses include too much politicking; ethnicised politics; weak political parties that keep on fragmenting; and dynastic politics. Opportunities include: free and frank dialogue among all stakeholders; devolved system of governance; relatively strong civil society organisations; increasing critique of ethnic-based politics. Some threats are: tendency to resort to violence in settling political scores; unresolved political grievances; endemic corruption in the public sector; insecurity caused by terrorist groups.
What Kenya needs is to address these weaknesses and threats while maximising the strengths and opportunities. Whoever wishes to take over power in Kenya should ask a sincere question on whether he or she is ready to transcend the weaknesses and threats that the country faces. Might the Uhuraila Handshake be a small gesture to address some of the weaknesses and threats that the Kenyan polity is facing? Only time will tell.
Several alternatives have been put across for Africa’s development agenda: industrialization, infrastructure, agriculture, universal primary education, universal secondary education, aid, trade and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) among others. The debate continues, especially after the expiry of the MD Gs. The immediate context of this discussion is the UN Summit scheduled in September 2015 on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). I want to suggest a bold idea of promoting e-learning or distance learning at tertiary level based on the concept of ICT for innovation. By this I want to reduce the SDGs to one: quality and affordable education for job creation for all. We are living in an age of cyberspace where computer and mobile applications are spurring innovation in health, education, agriculture, commerce, banking and technological innovation. But for this ICT for innovation to succeed there is need for a paradigm shift in how tertiary education is conducted in Africa. The called for paradigm shift includes development of online or distance learning courses of high quality that are affordable, since there is less dependence on physical infrastructure, transport costs and hard copy learning materials.
The main argument I am making is that provision of affordable quality education that trains job creators rather than job seekers, other goals will be taken care of as well, like health care, employment, care for the environment, equality, governance, security, housing, food security and peace.
Key Words: AI, cosmic Christ, 4IR, political economy, African cosmology, theological anthropology.
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Photo credit: Citizen TV
Odomaro Mubangizi
Jan 19, 2019
Reflecting on the 9 March 2018 handshake between Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and leader Raila Odinga, the author wonders if that reconciliatory moment ushered in a new democratic dispensation in Kenya.
Introduction
As many analysts had rightly predicted, the much-talked about handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and the self-acclaimed People’s President Raila Odinga that took place on 9 March 2018, has refused to go away. On the contrary, it has continued to colour the political narrative and imagination of Kenyan politics close to ten months after. Both local and international observers of Kenyan politics have kept wondering what was it the “handshake”. Recently, turns and twists have happened and pieces are beginning to fall into place, such that we can safely present some coherent political hermeneutics of the Uhuraila Handshake. Political entrepreneurs both at home and abroad can start strategising if they want to remain relevant in Kenya’s unfolding new political dispensation. Is Kenya poised for a new democratic dispensation ushered in by the reconciliatory handshake?
Current earth-shaking developments and fall-outs
The Uhuraila Handshake recently took a new dramatic twist when Raila was celebrating his birthday in the costal city of Mombasa. It happened when President Uhuru Kenyatta was supposedly having his vacation in Mombasa. The two shakers and movers of Kenya’s politics were seen offering each other a birthday cake. Joho the Governor of Mombasa, Nsoko, Najib Balala, among other political figures were present at the celebration. This celebrative mood provided a great opportunity for President Uhuru to shower Raila with praises and call for national reconciliation while insisting that the national resources should be equitably shared by all regions of the country. This was in response to ethnic chauvinists from Central Kenya who have been accusing President Uhuru for not doing much for his “political base.” This line of thinking, President Uhuru has rightly rubbished as dangerous and not in-keeping with his philosophy of the Bridge-Building Initiative. To show his anger he has even used undiplomatic words such as “Washenzi”(Swahili for fools) to refer to those who are still playing an ethnic card.
But the most dramatic event of all is the fall-out by David Murethi, one prominent Jubilee (ruling party) politician who took initiative to stop Vice President William Ruto from his 2022 presidential bid. David Murethi has since resigned but his campaign to stop Ruto’s presidential bid has continued. Meanwhile, a good number of Central Jubilee politicians are breathing fire protesting what they consider as President Uhuru’s soft spot for Raila Odinga. It is likely that more political fall-outs will happen as Kenya’s political temperatures continue to rise.
Two competing political narratives: Business as usual or a new democratic dispensation
Those who watch Kenya’s politics keenly know a few rules of thumb or political dogmas. First, that Kenyans love politicking such that as soon elections are over, politicking begins all over again. Second, that political parties are creatures of convenience and political expedience—once elections are over, political parties crumble and new ones are formed just as new elections approach. This political phenomena is not found anywhere on the planet with such intensity and predictability. Since 2002 no one easily recalls how many and what political parties have been formed in Kenya. We have had Coalition for Reform and Democracy, Orange Democratic Movement, Safina, Party of National Unity, Jubilee, the National Super Alliance, and many more will come before 2019 ends. What is constant are the politicians and not the political parties.
There is a section of Kenyans who are tired of the never-ending politicking that is ethnic based. To decongest power from the centre, devolution was tried but it has not gone far enough to end corruption and politics of exclusion. This is probably why President Uhuru Kenyatta and his new political ally Raila Odinga are now preaching the Gospel of Building Bridges and the reconciliatory handshake. You are either with them or against them. Period. Before the handshake the country was on the verge of collapsing and the economy was badly hurting. This new thinking holds some promise for a new democratic dispensation in Kenya. It stands for a new political thought of inclusive nation building and participation by all in the affairs of running the state. President Uhuru and Raila Odinga know too well how politics of exclusion and marginalisation has engendered turbulent times for Kenya. They seem to be saying: “Enough is enough.”
On the other hand, there are those who think “politics of Kenya should remain as has been and ever shall be, world without end Amen.” This school of thought still thinks along ethnic lines and defines the state as an arena of ethnic contestation when people take turns to share the spoils or the cake. This school of thought considers political corruption as a norm and the winner, regardless of who he or she wins, takes all.
The two political standards are now competing for the political soul of Kenya. It will be bloody and hopefully, something good will emerge. Having decentralised power a bit through the Country system, there is now a feeling that the there is another barrier, namely too much power in the presidency. This is why there is a discussion going on about a referendum to create several subunits of power. Why not several Vice Presidents and a Prime Minister? It comes as no surprise that both President Uhuru and his new political ally Raila Odinga seem to support the idea of this new political engineering and the need for referendum. On the other hand, the Vice President William Ruto is opposed to this move. Draw your own conclusions.
What about 2022?
Whether we like it or not, 2022 is already shaping the day-to-day political discourse in Kenya. Any action by key politicians is interpreted from the perspective of 2022. Both President Uhuru and Raila Odinga seem to be saying that urgent issues of development should take centre stage and wait a bit for 2022 politicking when the right time arrives. The Ruto camp seem to be concerned about the current trend of things that seem to put Raila Odinga into the limelight as he is constantly being seen next to President Uhuru at major public events. As the saying goes, “actions speak louder than words.”
Is the handshake then connected to 2022? One has to have a special skill to interpret political symbolism to unravel what is in the handshake. What do we know about the handshake so as to predict its implications for 2022? It has persisted. It has attracted much attention even globally. It gets expressed in other ways such as sharing a cake, appearing on public events, and in having common vies about key national questions. You do not need to be a political psychologist to be able to read the chemistry exuding from the body language between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga. When you see their beaming faces during public rallies, you can only arrive at one conclusion: this is a political romance made in heaven.
Legacy politics: What and whose legacy?
A saying goes: “Politicians think of the next election, statesmen think of the next generation.” What is going on in President Uhuru’s mind as all this drama is unfolding? First, is his legacy for Kenya. The big four agenda is part of this. Anything that will derail this process is political anathema. What is Vice President William Ruto thinking about? Clearly 2022 and his legacy thereafter. What is Raila Odinga thinking about? Clearly 2022 and his legacy thereafter. Add these political equations together and you will know why between now and 2022 Kenya will have a type of politics we have not known before.
These conflicting and competing legacies and political agendas are hard to resolve. This is why they form a script for a very exciting political drama that will begin to unfold during the first quarter of 2019. We can use a SWOT [strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats] analysis to shed some light on this.
Kenya has some strength to weather the political storm that might be brewing. What are they? Kenya so far has a vibrant media both conventional and social. Even though the quality of media outlets has declined a bit, generally they media is independent and offers objective and evidence-based analysis. Kenya has a vibrant private and informal sector that enables citizens to go about their daily business without needlessly relying on the state for hand-outs. The Kenyan citizenry is generally well-informed and confident about their political rights. Kenya has the strongest economy in the Eastern Africa region.
Weaknesses include too much politicking; ethnicised politics; weak political parties that keep on fragmenting; and dynastic politics. Opportunities include: free and frank dialogue among all stakeholders; devolved system of governance; relatively strong civil society organisations; increasing critique of ethnic-based politics. Some threats are: tendency to resort to violence in settling political scores; unresolved political grievances; endemic corruption in the public sector; insecurity caused by terrorist groups.
What Kenya needs is to address these weaknesses and threats while maximising the strengths and opportunities. Whoever wishes to take over power in Kenya should ask a sincere question on whether he or she is ready to transcend the weaknesses and threats that the country faces. Might the Uhuraila Handshake be a small gesture to address some of the weaknesses and threats that the Kenyan polity is facing? Only time will tell.