And true to this skepticism, the big men and women of Africa did not disappoint. They were in their true form; discussing non-issues while relegating what should have been uppermost on their agenda to the gutters. First to confirm our fears was Uganda's strongman Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
If I were to summarise Museveni's conduct at the just ended AU Summit in Addis Ababa and in the recent past, I wouldn't hesitate to describe him as the proverbial mourner who mourns with an intensity that far surpasses that of the bereaved. It is a well known fact that Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta, his deputy William Ruto and journalist Joshua Sang have been indicted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity. This indictment, as anyone with the slightest knowledge of law would tell you, does not mean the three gentlemen are guilty. They remain innocent until proved otherwise. It is in recognition of this fact that, they have been afforded a trial before the court to prove their innocence.
In their comments on the charges facing them at the ICC, Uhuru and Ruto have been insistent that they are wrongly before the court and it is just a matter of time before their innocence is established. I have no reason to doubt them considering that they have both displayed an unwavering willingness to cooperate with the court. And in view of the pair's cooperation with the court, the ICC has been fairly magnanimous, readily capitulating to most of their requests and even chastising the court's Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda each time she appears to be acting in a manner prejudicial to the Kenyan suspects.
Actually in laying the ground for trial, the court's judges have done nothing to make anyone conclude that they are impelled by the slightest modicum of malice in adjudicating the Kenyan cases. Yet Museveni rather than delve into maladies afflicting Africa such as substandard leadership, poverty among others, choose to make alarmist sentiments at the AU Summit to the effect that the ICC has plans to detain President Kenyatta when he appears before it. The question that should be on the minds of many is, why is Museveni, a Ugandan, behaving as if he is bound to suffer more than Kenyans if President Uhuru is to be tried by the ICC?
I have a feeling that there's more than meets the eye to Museveni's offensive against the ICC in regard to Kenyan cases. The Ugandan president is certainly alive to the fact that if President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto were to defy the ICC, Kenya would, as a matter of course, be slapped with economic sanctions by the international community. Western nations and donors will, in all likelihood, shun Kenya and freeze aid to the country. This would adversely affect the Kenyan economy. The revenue Kenya gets from international business will dry up since we will not be able to export goods and services to places like Europe and the US.
A weak Kenyan economy will a blessing in disguise for neighbouring countries like Museveni's Uganda who have never hidden their envy of Kenya's fairly stable and improving economy. Their volume of trade with Kenya's traditional trade partners will increase translating into massive economic gain for these neighbouring countries. Taking a cue from Museveni, African leaders almost unanimously voted to have the Kenyan cases at the ICC brought back to local courts.
The leaders went to stupendous extents in discrediting the ICC as an institution that unjustly targets African leaders. What they forgot to point out is that of all the continents, it is Africa that has no shortage of despots. Many African leaders are a law unto themselves. Their indifference to the rule of law and second opinion is in a class of its own. Many run their countries like personal property.
President Kenyatta belongs to a new breed of young, dynamic African leaders on whom so many young people have pegged their hopes for a better future. He represents the dreams and aspirations of youth who are sick and tired of mediocre leadership that has for far too long massacred their vision of a better life.
Conversely, Museveni is affiliated to a group of African dictators who are largely to blame for much that is wrong in Africa. He is the quintessential African despot who believes the presidency of Uganda is his birthright. How else do you describe a man who is reportedly busy grooming his son to take over the leadership of his country when he vacates office. President Kenyatta should guard against taking advice from Museveni and his ilk. I'm sure Kenyatta has a vision for this country which he's keen on ensuring that it materialises. Listening to dictators famed for oppressing their people and have no regard for the rule of law will certainly not be wise.
This article was published in the Star Newspaper on June 8,2013
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