Tuesday 29 January 2013

IS DEMOCRACY WINNING?



“Democracy will not fail” was the consensus in an international world debate thanks to BBC.  One of the biggest challenges for the nations undergoing change after the uprisings would be in the area of re-balancing civil-military relations. At this juncture, it's relevant to ask if the democracy is winning or not.
Basically, are democracies best equipped to deal with the increasingly complex challenges of the globalized world? Europe is bogged down in deep economic crises and the US government is gridlock. China's new leadership rejects democratic reform while the country's economy continues to grow. In the Middle East, the hope of freedom, democracy and prosperity promised by the Arab Spring is beginning to look tarnished. Why is democracy failing so badly to support economic prosperity? 
Is autocracy more effective in a crisis? The World Debate in Davos asks: Is Democracy Winning?



During the debate the recipe for a democracy to win was loud and clear: -
  • That the government has to respond to the calls of the street (that is there has to be a two-way relationship between the citizens and their elective leader)
  • That the democracy should not be about just a ballot box but it should be sustainable and aligned together with accountability and the rights of the citizens.
  • That it should bring complementarity between men and women (and not just equality) etc...

    Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, Mr. DAVUTOGLU Ahmet said that democracy is a historical process, and just like the cold war ended in Europe so will the uprising democratic civil war end in Africa.
    In response to whether democracy is winning the answer was a strong YES by Thomas Friedman, columnist, foreign affairs - The New York Times. He then divided democracy into two parts i.e. the hardware part and the software part. The hardware part basically entailed self-determination through the right to vote, and proper constitutional reform. The software had with it, free press and media, free commerce, an independent judiciary and more importantly a healthy opposition; democracy is only as healthy as its active opposition, checked by free press, and inclusion of an independent judiciary. Unless and until a strong leadership is there in the opposition to check the growth, democracy is not happening.

    The discussion heated up when a question was asked if Islam as a religion is a threat to Democracy. The Turkish minister clarified that none of the faith is a threat. He ensured that Islam is a religion that allows democracy to grow as it is based on the dignity and collective rationalism. He also stated that the question of whether Islam is a threat to democracy or not is confusion and is coming from the orientalist mindset. He added again that unlike religion a party is prone to mistakes hence its dangerous in identifying a party to a religion since in so doing the mistakes it makes can be mistaken to its religion!

    The discussion also brought in some statements that the question of asking whether democracy is winning or not is secondary – the primary thing to do is to understand democracy as a way to respect human dignity. Democracy is about sustainability of democracy, it's about trust by the people, and it's about accountability.
    Discussing about the state of the Arab Spring, Thomas Friedman also stated, as also mentioned in one of his articles in the New York Times December 11, 2012 –

    “Whenever anyone asked me what I saw in Tahrir Square during that original revolution, I told them I saw a tiger that had been living in a 5-by-8 cage for 60 years get released. And there are three things I can tell you about the tiger:

                 1)      Tiger is never going back in that cage;
                 2)      Do not try to ride tiger for your own narrow purposes or party because this tiger only serves   Egypt as a whole; 
                3)      Tiger only eats beef. He has been fed every dog food lie in the Arabic language for 60 years,  so don't try doing it again. First, the Egyptian Army underestimated the tiger, and tried to get it back in the cage”

    Others in the discussion were confident that the Tiger would not go back to cage, however they suggested that for that to happen, democracy should function by respecting the dignity of the citizens.

    The columnist also added that there's negative freedom and positive freedom i.e. 'freedom from’ and ‘freedom to’! The Arab spring was about freedom from oppression now we onto freedom to? Freedom to do what is the question: Freedom to be citizens, freedom to do many things, freedom to be sectarian etc. Hence security and economic growth has to be reflected in democracy and so as religion for that matter.
    Questions about why democracy is struggling in Greece – the birthplace of democracy, and in India where democracy exist only when election comes, need to be addressed separately. At the same time, there was a consensus that we are at a stage where democracy is at its initial stage and we need to improve so as for it to win – the only way for democracy to win is to make the whole process inclusive by giving respect to the citizens. Democracy is in trouble because of the rise of extremism and collapse of state power and taking over of political parties that have no regard whatsoever on democracy


    OUR TAKE
     
    First of all yes, the tiger is not going back to the cage. Democracy is unstoppable as people have lost their fear, and everyone is tending towards a two-way communication and relationship with his/her government. Secondly, for democracy to prosper TRUST is a fundamental principle i.e. for example as an elective leader is voted in based on his promises and manifestos, he or she is to adhere to them lest the whole notion of democracy will be breached. Again election alone is not sufficient as in some cases it can be used as a tool of oppression by the majority to the minority in terms of misrepresentation and participation e.g. racially, tribalically, religiously etc. Hence democracy shouldn’t be put as an ideology but put into aspects to fit into good governance. We believe democracy is subjective with different countries and hence if put as a universal ideology it can disregard religious values, cultural values, traditions and various civilizations which could end up being undemocratic. Winston Churchill also warned us that as much as democracy is the best form of governance it could also be the worst form of governance. All in all yes democracy is winning.

    Wednesday 9 January 2013

    CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM


    BY Kimani Wanjiru(Uraia Spokesperson)

     

    “The constitution was passed on August 4th 2010 and promulgated on the 22ND same month, as our foundation of laws; and from that day the ground shifted. The power now basically belongs to the civilians rather than the elective leaders”, opened the Uraia spokesman, Mr. Kimani Wanjiru.
    Uraia is a national civic program that has 4 main branches in its core of duties:

    1.     Entrenchment of constitution
    2.      Independence of the Judiciary
    3.     Free fair electioneering
    4.      Increased opportunities for previously marginalized people i.e. women and children.




    He continued to say that for starters thanx to the new constitution the president is required to follow certain procedures when he’s making appointments i.e. like the Chief Justice position, Director of Public Prosecutions, Police Commissioner, county commissioners and the likes. With this he stressed that we as Kenyans and more necessarily the youth are required to really interact and know the constitution as it’s a form of a bureaucratic revolutionary tool. Failure to do so, what happens is that we inherit the debt left or imposed on us by the electives, if not properly checked, pilling up with every new regime.
    Below is some of his constitutional citing.

    CHAPTER 1 OF THE NEW CONSTITUTION


    SECTION 1: SOVEREIGNTY OF THE PEOPLE
    1.       (1) All sovereign power belongs to the people of Kenya
     (2) The people may exercise their power either directly or through their democratically elected representatives.
    This means that if elected, we as citizens have the power and right to ‘call the elective back’ on the basis of non-performance.

    SECTION 2: SUPREMACY OF THE CONSTITUTION
    2.       (1)The constitution is the supreme law of the Republic and binds all State organs at all levels of government and all persons.
    (5)A person or a group of persons may bring in action in the appropriate court for a declaration that any law, act or omission is inconsistent with, or is in contravention of, this constitution.


    SECTION 3: DEFENCE OF THE CONSTITUTION
    3.       (1) Every person has an obligation to respect uphold and defend this constitution.
    (2)Any attempt to establish a government otherwise than in compliance with this Constitution is unlawful.
    “Basically these rights come with responsibility and it’s our obligation to really know our rights and implement or put into effect this constitution”, stressed the Uraia spokesperson.
    On top of our constitution he later on pointed out that we should at minimum also respect our National Anthem. Our National Anthem basically is our national prayer and our basic means for reconciliation, reintegration and unity as a nation.
    Other than this he said that it’s very important to have good foreign policy with the outside world at large. Kenya or any country is never an island and can’t exist in isolation in our globalized world. Even with this we should also choose our international friends keenly and carefully. In the 2007 P.E.V it was our international friends led by Koffi  Anan, former TZ President Mkapa, and delegates of the African Union that brought about the end of the civic political war. They came with four agenda items

    1.   Peace and reconciliation
    2.    Humanitarian Crisis
    3.    Coalition or political reconciliation
    4.      Long term issues

    These long term issues included:-
    ·         Constitutional and institutional reforms
    ·         Youth issues, particularly unemployment

    The coming elections are thus very important to the constitutional implementation as it will mark and effect the:-

    •    Official departure from old to new constitution
    •     Setting up of proper institutions and structures that will help us realize power of the new constitution. That is for example clear separation of powers between the Executive, Judiciary and Legislature.
    •       Making of the whole principal of shared government operational. That is the national and county government
    •       Enhancement of processes that will make sure previously marginalized group(women and children) are actualized in the whole question of governance. These include aspects of the youth to benefit not just politically but also give them opportunities for employment.




    CHAPTER SEVENTEEN OF THE NEW CONSTITUTION

    SECTION 258: ENFORCEMENT OF THIS CONSTITUTION
          (1)    Every person has the right to institute court proceedings claiming that this constitution has been contravened or is threatened with contravention.

    CHAPTER 4

    SECTION 22: ENFORCEMENT OF BILL OF RIGHTS
          (1)    Every person has the right to institute court proceedings claiming that a right or fundamental freedom in the Bill of Rights has been denied, violated or infringed, or is threatened.

    The equality clause in the Bill of Rights says that “every person is equal before the law;” that “equality includes the full and equal enjoyment of all the rights and fundamental freedoms;” and that the State, private institutions and individuals may not discriminate against people on any ground, including race, sex, pregnancy, marital status, health status, ethnic or social origin, color, age, disability, religion, conscience, belief, culture, dress, language or birth.”

    Mr. Kimani summarily closed his session by stressing that, basically the constitution is our mother governing law; hence we as citizens have the power to file a petition to the courts due to parliamentary amendments or it’s misrepresentation by any party, individual or arms of the government.





    Thursday 3 January 2013

    Economic perspective of elections


    By Joseph Torku,

    Eco Bank Regional Manager for East and Central Africa




    Why should elections be a big thing?

    Mr. Torku denotes that Elections is just a means to an end. It comes after 4 years,hence what matters is the period after elections. He says that elections should be more of the outcome and not the elections in themselves. 


    Mr. Torku cited that Kenya's population is approximately 45 million and a big chunk of these comprise the youth hence the youth can't surely fall neglect of the country's affairs.
    42%- below 14yrs
    3%-above 65yrs
    65%- between 14-65yrs

    Elections are for the future.The manager satirically stated that Kenyan politicians seem to like 'dancing' as opposed to being properly vetted with regard to their ideologies and country issues as seen in debates like in the states. This he says affects or masks real country issues from the youth by the 'dancing' politicians. Like Ghana sadly, he says that Kenyan citizens vote on the basis of small handouts from the politicians, which only accounts for a days solution and not a long-term more permanent resolution.

    Kenya's per ca-pita income is about 1,700$ about 144,000 Ksh per annum thus 12,000ksh a month; 400ksh per day.USA per capita income is 4,000,000Ksh per yr despite its over 300million population.The Manager therefore adds that elections should basically sheer us to the 4million bracket but paradoxically elections in Kenya have resulted to country's breakdown rather than its overall prosperity.
    "Elections is about governance, proper structures so as, for starters, improve or reduce the rich-poor gap and the total income per ca-pita  Thus its about proper sharing of a country’s national cake. So until when elections are primarily centered around national issues, is when we will start asking the right questions. Elections elects or rather empowers people to governance positions so that the national upkeep can be bigger than it is. One should therefore appreciate our democratic vote as Kenyans which is not the case in other countries like in Egypt with mubaraks past 40 yr rule, or in Kabila's country.
    They say once bitten twice shy and that we should thus not let history repeat itself.
    We should stop thinking subjectively and start thinking objectively as a nation and not as mere communities," said Joseph Torku.


    In the symposium the Manager also stated that The World Bank projects that Kenya’s growth will slow down next year amid growing concerns on whether the elections will be peaceful. He continued saying that the bank estimates Kenya’s economy will grow at five per cent next year, if it has a peaceful General Election, well behind the predicted growth rate for the East African Community of 6.1 per cent. Should there be violence, he says the Bank warns, the country’s growth would drop to between three and four per cent. Since 2008, Kenya’s average growth rate has been 4 per cent, lower than Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda’s average of 6.8 per cent. A successful March 2013 election followed by a smooth transfer of power could see the country register better growth, adds Mr Joseph. In 2008, Kenya recorded growth of only 1.5 per cent compared with 7.1 per cent the previous year, on account of the violence that followed the country’s disputed election in 2007. It is this threat that already has business players concerned.

    The Manager harshly remarked that the World Bank says that the country’s capacity to mitigate political and economic shocks is the most important determinant of its bid to achieve sustained high growth for the remainder of the decade. Through Vision 2030, Kenya aims to achieve an ambitious 10 per cent annual growth rate. The World Bank notes that despite Kenya’s huge potential and its estimated average per capita income of $800, which is higher than that of Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda, Kenya is still playing catch up in Africa’s development due to mistakes of yester years.
    “Despite Kenya’s good location, strong human resources and a vibrant private sector, its level of income is only half of Africa’s average,” reads the report.

    In his final sentiments the manager expressed that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) says the increased in public expenditure in Kenya as it prepares for the 2013 polls could have serious consequences. In a statement, the IMF executive board said that while economic activity in Kenya is on a rebound, all the gains could be wiped out if the election spending was not brought under control. Downside risks remain because of global uncertainties and spending pressures associated with the upcoming elections.