Kenyan government has been urged to approach the oil mining with caution lest it plunges the country into chaos.
Speaking during ‘Advocates for Change’ book launch at Serena Hotel, South African author and political commentator Mr Moeletsi Mbeki said that the mineral discovery was a major milestone for the country but if not approached carefully, it will make Kenya a battle front.
“Oil discovery shows that Kenya can grow from that and realize the development dream that many countries yearn for. However, this mineral can lead to ethnic upheaval if not approached with care,” said the Advocates for Change editor, who cited Sudan and Gulf of Guinea as nations which have been devastated with unrest due to oil.
The brother to the former South African president Thabo Mbeki added that Africa’s economy underperformance has been brought about by gluing power only to the elites, leaving the middle class languishing below the poverty line, yet it composes majority of the African population.
The author of South African bestseller said: “Our economy has remained stagnant due to people clinging in power and as African voters choosing leaders based on fame. If the middle class fails to be part of the government, Africa will remain underdeveloped.”
Inaugurating the book, Mr John Githongo, the CEO of Inuka Kenya Trust, pointed regional integration as key part of the book, urging the East African countries to embrace the free market strategy and transform the region to a business area whose people are leading healthy lifestyles.
“This book puts regional integration into focus and East African countries have to embrace the integration, if they are to improve the living standards of its people,” said the former Permanent Secretary for Governance and Ethics.
The book which according to the secretary of Kenya Alliance of Resident Association (KARA) Mr Alfred Osur has practical solutions to the African problems entails proper governance whereby change in leadership will only be real if citizens are informed and their grievances voiced.
With contributions cutting across the entire continent, the book focuses development and governance and puts development as a major desire for many African states which has been eluding the states due to poor governance and lack of democracy.
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