ISIG public lecture

How to develop in a global economy, with a specific attention to national and local goals: Global network and local equilibrium.

Musikari Kombo
Kenyan Minister for Local Government

Tuesday 22 May
2.30 - 4.30 p.m.

read the text of the lecture

 
Fifth Floor, Tower One

“To get aid, kneel before me...”

Clearly the most distinguishing aspect of our recent relations with the West has been the clamour for good governance and introduction for multiparty democracy. Noble as these goals were, the pressure to institute them has left a bitter taste in mouths of many African countries due the heavy handedness in which the whole process was executed. Donor conditionalities for almost all development support became increasingly intrusive and the amounts were substantially reduced. Meetings with major lenders became occasions for lectures on good governance and corruption prevention.

Interactions with the West became not only needlessly intrusive, but condescending and patronizing. At on time the former regime in this country was required to report Government expenditures on a weekly basis to the International Monetary Fund as a condition for disbursing loans to the Kenya Government. Such measures coming a few decades after co1onalism gave rise to unprecedented resentment needlessly poisoning the relations with the West.

“No I will not kneel!”

It should not be viewed with surprise then that Kenya today is funding over 92% her budget requirements out of domestic resources. While the need for development support continues to be critical in most economies in Africa (Uganda funds only 50% of her requirements), the psychological dependence on aid seems to have commenced a terminal decline. This goal is also the result of efficiency in the government process, obtained through an innovative use of technologies; a specific attention of the Kenya Govern in adopting IT technologies to realize e-govern challenges and to push the education of the Kenyan youth to create innovative skills and to develop motivation for a better future.

The “Family Street Program” as an opportunity for the young Kenyan to improve their condition learning new technological tools for their personal development.

Places will be available on a first-come-first-serve basis. Registration is not required.

For further details regarding this seminar and other IS events please contact:
Frances White, Research Coordinator  (020 7955 6398)
 

Page last updated 17 October 2007

^