Give Kenya A Second Chance
After the most peaceful and fair elections ever held in Kenya, the Danish Association for International Cooperation, MS, asks Danish politicians to again increase development assistance to the poor East African country.
10. January 2003"Cuts in development assistance and other types of sanctions are often adopted when donors are critical of a country’s path of development. These measures have rightfully been taken in the case of a Kenya marred by corruption and violence. But now the opposite is needed."
"Foreign aid is absolutely crucial for the new government to get off to a new start. This is not the time to lean back and wait for change to transpire in Kenya. The time is ripe to take action and contribute to that change."
The above-mentioned statements are contained in a letter from MS Chairman Bent Nicolajsen and Secretary General Lars Udsholt addressed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Denmark, Mr. Per Stig Moeller and Members of Parliament.
MS asks Danish politicians to again increase development assistance to Kenya following the peaceful elections held on the 27th of December. After almost 40 years in power, KANU had to hand over government and the presidency to the Rainbow Coalition (NARC) headed by the experienced politician Mwai Kibaki.
The new President has declared that corruption is no longer going to be a way of life in Kenya. The Rainbow Coalition has made many promises and some will be difficult to fulfill, but there is every reason to be optimistic.
"Kenya is now ready to be taken and tested as a serious partner. The Danish Association for International Cooperation, MS, encourages Denmark to boost its support to the poor East African country", write Bent Nicolajsen and Lars Udsholt in the letter to Danish politicians. Kenya’s important political and economic role in the region is emphasized:
"To get the once so strong Kenyan economy rolling again will be important for the expansion of the East African cooperation. Kenya has already played an important part in the Sudan conflict, and a stabile and peaceful Kenya is an important component of conflict resolution in the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes region."
Due to KANU’s authoritarian and corrupt rule, the Danish assistance to Kenya has in recent years been largely concentrated on civil society. Danida and MS have cooperated closely on the implementation of a human rights programme in Kenya, and one of MS-Kenya’s own thematic focus areas is human rights, good governance and democracy.
"These initiatives of course have to continue. Kenya is an excellent example of the importance of such assistance ", write the MS Chairman and General Secretary.
See the whole letter below and read more about the elections in Kenya here
For further information
Bent Nicolajsen, MS' Chairman, +45 51359993
Lars Udsholt, MS' General Secretary, +45 77310031
Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke, Borgergade 14, 1300 København K, Denmark
(Letter to Danish politicians)
10th of January 2003
Att: The Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Per Stig Moeller
and Members of Parliament
Give Kenya A Second Chance
The elections in Kenya are over. The 27th of December, Kenyan voters went to the polling stations in great numbers. After almost 40 years in power, KANU had to hand over the government and the presidency to the Rainbow Coalition (NARC) headed by the experienced politician Mwai Kibaki.
The two previous multi-party elections in Kenya were marked by violence, tribal clashes and irregularities. Thus, there were many frightening scenarios for what could happen before, during, and after the elections.
The elections turned out fair and peaceful because:
- Kenyans have become more aware of their democratic rights due to civic education.
- Prior to the elections, the Kenyan civil society and international actors such as EU put massive pressure on the Electoral Commission so as to ensure an election procedure with a minimal risk of rigging.
- The opposition parties had learned from their past mistakes in the two previous elections where their loss was to a great extent owed to internal strife. This time they agreed on one presidential candidate, who won a landslide election.
- In this election, KANU saw the opposition as an adversary and not an enemy, and in the final analysis accepted the democratic will of the people.
"Cuts in development assistance and other types of sanctions are often adopted when donors are critical of a country’s path of development. These measures have rightfully been taken in the case of a Kenya marred by corruption and violence. But now the opposite is needed."
The new President Mwai Kibaki said during the inauguration ceremony that corruption would no longer be a way of life in Kenya. He asked Kenyans to help the government in its fight against corruption.
The new government has made many promises, some of which will be difficult to fulfill. There is no guarantee that the elections mark a whole new beginning for Kenya. Nor are there any guarantees that the NARC coalition will follow the set course. But there is every reason to have great hopes. Kenyans badly want change after the many years under a rigid, authoritarian rule. And the new government is very aware that it was exactly the hope for change that laid the groundwork for their landslide victory.
"Foreign aid is absolutely crucial for the new government to get off to a good start. This is not the time to lean back and wait for change to transpire in Kenya. The time is ripe to take action and contribute to that change."
Denmark has a long tradition of supporting human rights and the development of democratic game rules. Denmark has supported the civil society in Kenya for years. Danida and the Danish Association for International Cooperation, MS-Kenya, have for instance in recent years cooperated closely on the implementation of a human rights programme, and one of MS-Kenya’s own thematic focus areas is human rights, good governance, and democracy. These initiatives of course have to continue. Kenya is precisely an excellent example of the importance of such assistance.
The civil society in Kenya now faces new challenges. It has to get used to cooperating with a government that is friendlier towards its role in society.
The new situation also creates new avenues of action for the donors. Sustainable development in Kenya demands a strong and well-run government that is able to offer its citizens security, create a healthy macro-economic climate and prioritize amongst the necessary development initiatives and efforts.
At the same time Kenya is an important regional factor, both in terms of economy and security. To get the once so strong Kenyan economy rolling again will be important for the expansion of the East African cooperation. Kenya has already played an important part in the Sudan conflict, and a stabile and peaceful Kenya is an important component of conflict resolution in the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes region.
Kenya is now ready to be treated and tested as a serious partner. The Danish Association for International Cooperation, MS, encourages Denmark to boost its support to the poor East African country.
Yours Sincerely,
Bent Nicolajsen
Chairman
Lars Udsholt
General Secretary