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Kenya: Whether We Like It Or Not, the U.S. Must Undo the Gordian Knot
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The Nation (Nairobi)
OPINION
23 February 2008
Posted to the web 25 February 2008
Donald B. Kipkorir
Nairobi
In the third century, Greek and Persian empires shared the then known world and enjoyed complete duopoly of military and economic power.
Alexander the Great wanted sole dominance and, between him and the world, stood an ancient myth that whoever undid the Gordian Knot in Phrygia, Turkey, would rule the world.
In 333BC, Alexander arrived in Phrygia and undid the knot, that had defied and mesmerised many for decades, by simply cutting it through in one stroke with his sword. By defying tradition and norms of untying the knot, Alexander became the world's pre-eminent leader and opened Asia to the Greek language, culture and religion.
Since December, Kenya has been trying to rediscover itself and move on. The US and the European Union demand that PNU and ODM enter into a real power-sharing deal as a temporary measure. We may not be privy to the finer details of what both sides of the divide understand by power-sharing, but one thing is for sure: PNU says any power-sharing that undermines the Constitution is unacceptable.
Governing party
The governing party is trying to erect the Gordian Knot for the country, and both parties do not have options. A Phrygian moment is inevitable.
The Government is opposed to power-sharing on three grounds: our sovereignty, that there is a lawful government and that any agreement must be compatible with the Constitution. Like the Gordian Knot, these arguments will not stand the realpolitik nor credibility test.
The US is the world's sole superpower and global policeman and its decades-long official foreign policy is founded on two principles: the promotion, spread and protection of democracy and human rights as well as the commitment to and protection of its allies. However, the sub-text of the policy is the protection and securing of sources of and routes for its energy supplies, and the protection of Israel and its citizens and property worldwide from Islamic terrorism.
The September 11, 2001, attacks on American targets strengthened the policy-makers, neo-cons and supporters in focusing on this sub-text, and the US's entire foreign policy revolves around it. Kenya happens to be sitting in a strategic location for the implementation of this foreign policy.
Kenya does not need to choose the US as its ally; America doesn't have a choice but to make us its ally tupende tusipende, our sovereignty notwithstanding.
To most Americans, Islamic terrorism is the threat, and no money and effort will be spared to destroy it. At the moment, the US has military command centres in the Pacific, Europe and Asia in addition to its central command.
For long, Africa has been missing out and this terrorism's immediacy and threat has forced them to set up the Africa Command Centre (AfriCom).
This will enable the American military to be near what they call the theatre of operation, which is specifically the Middle East and Somalia. Although Nigeria, South Africa, Liberia and Djibouti are begging that AfriCom be built in their countries, America seems to prefer Kenya - Lamu in particular.
In building AfriCom in Lamu, Kenya stands to gain in modern infrastructure and direct employment, and of course, direct grants.
The US military budget this year is $650 billion - more than that of the rest of the world combined. China, with the second largest military budget, is spending a mere $63 billion.
If America has decided to set up AfriCom in Lamu, and has decided what kind of government in Kenya will allow them to do so, no amount of protestation will stand in the way of the geo-politico-military strategy. We stand no chance. Ask Saddam Hussein with his one million-man army.
As we do not have a real foreign policy of our own, we should welcome America with open hands. We have never had control of nor attempted to influence events in the region. Our economy is the largest in this backward region, and yet it is these neighbours who are feeling sorry about our state of affairs. Rwanda, a country the size of Murang'a District, will soon be controlling events in this region if we continue sleeping.
The other argument used by PNU of there being a lawful government is not premised on any sound law. The Constitution and The National Assembly and Presidential Elections Act, Cap.7, demand that the President be the one with the highest valid cast votes. The way the presidential vote tallying was done cannot be said to have given us a validly elected president.
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The law states categorically that before it announces the presidential poll winner, the Electoral Commission must have the original Forms 16, 17A and 18 and ECK must tally all the votes cast.
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