User:FKachero/BlogEntry: 2008 April 15 14:44:46 EAT

From KLAMediaWiki

Is The Western Model Universally Applicable?

Thinking loudly

‘The banning of live broadcasts should be condemned by all. As information managers we must condemn this action by the government in the strongest terms possible’ – Esther Obachi

In �My views about the Political situation in Kenya and the way forward’, Esther wrote those cited words which also appear on the wsflibrary Homepage.

I am happy that Esther brought out the situation that obtained in Kenya in very clear perspective. I totally agree with that analysis.

However, I have a grouse on the applicality of Western ideals on so called Third World countries.

In Kenya, one of the greatest achievement of the Kibaki administration was the freedom of speech and press. However, prior to and during and immediate after elections, the vernacular stations played a terrible role of igniting and preparing people of their ethnicity for violence against the others. Most were thro’�call-in messages that were relayed live on radio. By the time the elections were found to have been rigged, the only option was to do what they had been prepared for. Certainly, live broadcasts were doing more harm in a state in anarchy than good. This brings me to the question: do the cherished ideals of the Western world such as freedom of speech and press always work for others? While I leave it for discussion, I tend to think that there is a developmental stage that permits such an ideal to work. Absence of that development stage can result in the ghastly results.

I remember former President Moi (Kenya) was opposed to multiparty democracy on grounds that it woud divide the country and ignite tribal animosities. This has come to pass. In his unveiling of the cabinet recently, Kibaki tacitly acknowledged the truth in that view. Considering what happened in Kenya and now Zimbabwe, which may be copied by other African countries considering that Kenya has often played a first one; my second question is: Is Western concept of multiparty or plural politics really good for Africa? Any answers.