Among the issues discussed during the one-day summit was the proposed fast tracking of the East African Federation and the creation of a Common Market. Fast tracking the EAC federation, they said, was not in the best interest of the EAC citizenry, whose opinions were sought earlier this year about the proposed fast tracking. In fact the fear rested, according to most of the respondents, in the ‘fact' that the political atmosphere in most of the countries in the community is seemingly ‘unstable'.

Thus, going into a federation with such countries that have not set their houses in order would be tantamount to opening a can of worms that would, eventually, wend their way into the fabric of the other countries in the community.

Creation of a common market, the presidents said, would come in the year 2012. The very idea of the creation of a common market has not gone down well with most people in East Africa. Most Tanzanians, for instance, fear the idea of a common market with ‘Kenya' at the centre of the picture. They fear that the creation of such a market, which would mean the opening of the borders of the member countries to allow people to work, live and trade anywhere in East Africa, would mean Kenyans flocking into Tanzania.

This it is feared, would mean Kenyans taking up most of the vast virgin land that lies unused, in Tanzania. They also fear that the ‘aggressive' Kenyans would take their good jobs, for as they say, Kenyans are a people who will rest at nothing till they get what they want.

It is also a widely believed notion in Tanzania that Kenyans are better educated than them. This to me does not lead to any solid conclusions; however, before committing further into this venture we should ask ourselves some germane questions:

1. Are we wasting our time working towards the EAC federation?
2. Are we being insensitively unrealistic with our assessment of our neighbors' commitment to a common market?

For, it seems, there are some quarters that are deliberately trying to stagnate sabotage these efforts.

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worthy cause
written by Dave Nyambati , August 21, 2007

I think the EAC is something that Kenyans should aggresively pursue. If worked out properly it doesn't have to be a win-lose scenario where for Kenya to benefit, Tanzania must suffer!

We can play to each other's strengths and understand that globalisation is happening, whether we want it to or not - I'd much rather Kenya craft her own role now than be forced into it in the future.

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till death do us part
written by donworry , August 21, 2007

My partner and I have often looked wistfully at EA Federation as a that "marriage made in heaven". At least that is if we are to believe all the good things that unity proponents keep singing to us.

We are told from a very early age that the EA region...and here we include the tiny states of Rwanda and Burundi...must act as a block in trade and other development matters in order to secure the interests of all our peoples in a highly competitive global stage.

We are made to understand that a joint approach to strategic infrastructure planning, design and implementation for Air, Rail, Road and Sea transportation, or faster communications for e.g would benefit us all. We are pursuaded that the combined natural and human resources of the EA region are sufficient to accelerate our economies to emerging nation status.

So why does the blushing bride still reject our advances?

Common sense really. How many times did you hear people say of a marriage.."it will never last..." or perhaps..."give them six months, tops!"..

People are able to judge and make these comments when they can see that the union being entered into is a sham, a marriage of convenience, or as our brothers and sisters chambele are all too familiar with...a marriage for makaratasi.

If the main reason for A and B getting together is to consolidate their families' resources, to make them stronger and more formidable force to reckon with..... Stop the wedding. One must never get married because one ought to.

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written by Mr.Kay , August 21, 2007

Those who "fear" an EAC are just stuck in the myopic tribal past. Times have moved on and globalisation is a factor that is either addressed now or we all suffer with our "sovereign" nations.

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The Future Is Bright
written by John Ongeri , August 21, 2007

I feel that perhaps Mr Richard Mbuthia is leading a choir of pessimists in song here. My own reading of the concluded one day summit is one of optimism. The future is not uncertain as you assert and Tanzania's readiness to oppose "federation at any cost" should not be seen as entirely negative.

The inclusion of Burundi and Rwanda not only makes the pool of academic resources at our disposal much larger it also puts to an end to accusations of one country's intentions to dominate the federation. Inclusion of Rwanda especially would do much good for the movement towards good governance even here in Kenya.

I think donworry may be trying to say that there are many people....living together... who are put off by the very idea of marriage. I am sure that none of us need a little bit of paper to prove ourselves to your beloved.

I suppose that if we can live together with a joint customs union, free movement of our respective citizens within our borders and free movement of goods...if we feel that this is fine, we may go down the "sensible" way of a common currency and probably a common flag...(that would then need a common national anthem) and then perhaps a common president....

What's wrong with just kuja tu kae

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population
written by joe , August 21, 2007

im not sure if pessimists and pundits are aware but based on current growth patterns
the population of uganda will be 2 time sthe population of kenya in the the next 30yrs - tnaznias will remain slightly larger than kenya an dthe population in kenya will be on avergae much older than tour 2 neighbours - rwanda and burundis will be overcrowded.. hence its safe to say min the next 30yrs most of the labor will come from uganda - most the natural resources will come from tanzania. - rwandans will hav eno option but to migrate to the other countries. kenyans will have the higher standard of living supported by foreign labor

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open the damn borders
written by Stephen Wanyama , August 22, 2007

That part of me that strongly detests states and borders demands that the borders are opened now. There is so much that we can learn from each other, and so much that our greater size will bequeath the new state.

At the same time as we do it, we need as in Europe ( think Catalunya or Scotland for example) and elsewhere to breakdown our internal states even further. The government at the top should be as weak as is possible in matters such as education, internal trade, agriculture, health and so on. That is the only way to achieve true democracy. Let us make hay of the effects of the larger market, while at the same time ensuring that local people have a direct say in how their governments are conducted. National governments are not in any way democratic, and the bigger we get the less democratic they will become. Smaller is better.

There's really no need to have a new national jam, or a new rag (flag). We can be the first countries in the world to do away with them completely. Let the people trade, and let them rule.

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...
written by Tim Norwood , August 22, 2007

Joe's post raises interesting points, and although it may not be his intention shows us just how foolish nationalism is. While we are very busy making Kenya safe from those pesky immigrants we are losing out on a lot that we could get from a Union.
I meet many Tanzanians, most of them coastals from Dar Es Salaam who raise the objections from Mbuthia's article.
What I tell them, and what Kenyan officials seem prepared to do is to accomodate these fears in special ascension provisions, much like those that exist for new EU countries. Kenya has for example realised her industrial advantage and customs are rated accordingly, granting our neighbours privileges denied to us.


Wanyama,
The example of India also seems apt. Let the states govern themselves, let them get their own FDI, run their own schools and so on. Look at the peculiar trajectories of states such as Haryana ( where Chandigarh is), Karnatka ( where Bangalore is) and so on.
Spain also presents a great example at solving the tension between centralisation and federalism. The Catalans, more than any other region perhaps are showing just how useful self-determination is. Such drastic devolution will also kill the energy for squabbling on the location ( concentration) of national enterprises in Nairobi which was perhaps Tanzania's greatest gripe.

P.S. The Ugandans have struck oil, the Tanzanians are probably sitting on large resources of assorted goodies Kenyans could start processing for them. Send friendly investment there and save them from the rape by the mining MNCs.

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