James Shikwati, the libertarian head of the Inter-Region Economic Network (Kenya) argues that East Africa must have science and technology as a strategic driver for regional integration: 'To develop Africa, each individual citizen must wrestle the 'comfort' in anonymity. I was appalled by the coincidence in history records that hit me in less than thirty minutes of scanning through literature. I bought Edward Paice's book, Tip and Run: The [U]ntold [T]ragedy [O]f [T]he [G]reat [W]ar [I]n Africa, and encountered thousands of unknown Africans variously referred to as 'loyal askari' and 'askari' [soldier]. An in-flight magazine in a plane I recently boarded had great stories on the history of Lamu, Mombasa, and Zanzibar; yet again the indigenous Africans remained nameless; recorded erroneously as watchers! Debates on African issues reveal that nothing has changed. Allowing other people to assume expertise on our predicament has made us remain but watchers! We must rethink the way we position knowledge or science to unleash the data that is held deep in the heads of 'watchers' for more than 400 years."
He continues his commentary: "In the quest to use science and technology as a strategic driver of East Africa Community integration, it is important to use history as a source of inspiration and guidance. All the five East African countries, namely, Burundi, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda are all creations of the gunpowder technology. Superior technology from the Portuguese, Arabs, Germans and the British made it easier for indigenous kingdoms to be conquered and dominated. The fate of East Africa region's indigenous kingdoms is well illustrated in Jared Diamond's book: Guns, Germs and Steel. Jared describes a scene where an Inca Emperor Atahullapa, with an 80,000 - strong army was confronted and defeated by Spaniard Pizzaro's army of only 200 soldiers. This clearly illustrates that numbers of people do not always count; but the 'quality' of the citizens."
More: "East Africa Community members ought to use science and technology to enable citizen participation in endorsing regional integration. Imposed integration will not be any different from what colonialists did when creating the five nation states in the region. Science and technology should not be used to suppress the fears and obstacles to East Africa Community integration. The global economic and political systems confine us to anonymity. Without informed participation by the citizenry, we remain but watchers! History will record 'loyal academician, politician, mkulima, askari and businessman!'"
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Knowledge, Power And Anonymous Africans
