Kibaki: intellectuals delaying EAC integration

Feb 16, 2015

Former Keyan president, Dr. Mwai Kibaki, has said that the process of driving the East African Community integration cannot be an exclusive undertaking of a few individuals.


By Innocent Anguyo and David Lumu       

Former Keyan president, Dr. Mwai Kibaki, has said that the process of driving the East African Community integration cannot be an exclusive undertaking of a few individuals in the corridors of Governments but rather a product of all East African citizens.

Speaking at a public lecturer at Makerere University during the inauguration of fundraising efforts for the $50m Mwai Kibaki Presidential Library, the alumnus of Makerere and former lecturer of economics said that Governments must avoid patronizing the policy making processes if integration is to be achieved.

"The process of making policies cannot be an undertaking patronized by a few in corridor of governments. It should be a process of all East African people," he said.

Kibaki also attacked the EAC intellectuals for failing to stimulate the EAC integration agenda among the locals.

"Stimulate and stretch your imaginations; don't wait to be invited by the political actors to make a contribution—aspire to be more practical. It is our business to determine our destiny as a bloc," he said.

Kibaki, the first student to graduate with a first class degree honors at Makerere also criticized the intellectuals for failing to understand the concept of industrialization as a major base for economic growth in the East African region.

"Our intellectuals have not reconciled with the idea of industrialization. It is a pity that we have not yet developed steel industries yet we are in a region endowed with iron ore, copper and oil," he said.

Citing the example of beasts and other wild animals that cross through the region every day, Kibaki said the colonial borders separating Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, Kenya and Uganda are meaningless when there is a lot to share—from culture to political history—among the people.

Kibaki also proposed that courses on East Africa Studies be introduced in universities in the region.

Giving Ugandan comedian Ann Kasiime as a classic example of "a clear ambassador of integration in the region," Kibaki said that: "the failure of intellectuals to play their role in integration is tantamount to a denial of the people of EAC their full dividends of integration. This is terror!"

In his remarks, President Yoweri Museveni said that Kibaki has always played a key role in the revival of the EAC integration process.

Museveni, who was represented by Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi also welcomed the idea of constructing the Mwai Kibaki Presidential Library. Museveni said that it is going to be a "world-class center of excellence in Africa" where key actors will meet and discuss the African economic development agenda.

"This is a wonderful innovation that will change the landscape in East Africa. I am proud of Makerere University for leading the way," Museveni said.

Museveni said that Government has contributed $5m (Sh14b) towards the construction of the Mwai Kibaki Presidential Library, a twin tower building with the highest structure rising to 20 storeys.

Makerere University School of economics changed name to Mwai Kibaki School of Economics.

On completion, the library will house the Mwai Kibaki Endowed Chair in Economics and the East African Mwai Kibaki Centre for Leadership, Public Finance and Public Policy. The Mwai Kibaki Endowed Chair in Economics will be held by a globally renowned Professor of Economics- preferably, a Nobel Prize Winner-according to officials of Makerere.

The Chair will be tasked with refining research, especially post-doctoral research aimed at amassing indigenous knowledge to fuel rapid economic growth in Uganda and East Africa.

Museveni said the East African Mwai Kibaki Centre for Leadership, Public Finance and Public Policy will lay emphasis on retooling African ministers of finance and secretaries to the treasury with development modules most suited for the continent.

"They will have unique opportunities, hitherto not available in Africa, to become scholars-in-residence and engage in research on topical issues of public finance and policy impacting Africa's development," Museveni said.

Jessica Alupo, the minister of Education and Sports said government is committed to funding Uganda's higher education so that it will remain one of the best in Africa.

Alupo encouraged the Makerere University alumni to take a leading role in mobolisation of resources to complete the library, saying its one way the current living alumni (about 500,000) can leave a legacy.

Vice Chancellor of Makerere University Prof. John Ddumba Ssentamu said the Mwai Kibaki Presidential library will be the first of its kind in Africa and that it will serve the region and beyond.

Ddumba said that $50m (Sh143b) is the total amount needed for the construction of the library within five years.
Quoting what President Museveni said in the 90s, the Chancellor of Makerere University Prof. Mondo Kagonyera said that the Mwai Kibaki Presidential Library will answer the question related to reasons why Africa has over time been consuming knowledge from abroad and not creating its own base of knowledge.

Other than local and regional fundraisings, Makerere University equally plans to hold a resource mobilization function in London School of Economics (LSE), where Kibaki was the first African to graduate with a BSc in Public Finance. The old buildings at the school of performing arts (MDD) will be demolished to pave way for the Library. It will be constructed in four years, starting December.

 

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