Analysis
In a tactical manoeuvre aimed at
strengthening his posture in the face of menacing International Criminal
Court (ICC) charges, the East African Community presidents have elected
Kenya's Uhuru Kenyatta as the next chairman of the five-nation bloc.
The choice of Kenyatta is a well-calculated move on the part of the
EAC, which will take the western powers by surprise as the rotational
leadership of the bloc was supposed to go to Rwanda first and thereafter
Burundi.
Instead, President Kagame pulled out, citing the need to concentrate
on internal engagements such as next year's 20th genocide anniversary,
which analysts have termed a feeble reason. President Museveni, the
incumbent chairman, will accordingly hand over EAC leadership to
Kenyatta at the end of Saturday's proceedings at the Imperial Royale
hotel in Kampala.
The minister of state for EAC Affairs, Shem Bageine, will also hand
over the chairmanship of the council of ministers to his Kenyan
counterpart. Bageine confirmed that the chairmanship of the community
was supposed to move from Uganda to Rwanda, then Burundi, then Tanzania,
before finally returning to Kenya on a rotational basis.
He, however noted that Rwanda had excused herself and Burundi was not ready.
"The chairmanship has gone back to Kenya on agreement, since Kenya was ready," Bageine said.
But some analysts believe the EAC leaders are using Kenyatta's
chairmanship as a possible shield against the ICC charges. Kenyatta and
his deputy William Ruto, who were elected earlier this year, are facing
charges of crimes against humanity in relation to their roles in the
2008 post-election violence in Kenya.
Uganda and Rwanda in particular and the African Union in general have
been pushing for the suspension of the charges. Last week the UN
Security Council voted to reject this idea.
Fred Mukasa Mbidde, a Ugandan representative in the East African
Legislative Assembly (EALA), says Kenya's chairmanship of the community
means a lot for both embattled leaders.
Analysis
In a tactical manoeuvre aimed at
strengthening his posture in the face of menacing International Criminal
Court (ICC) charges, the East African Community presidents have elected
Kenya's Uhuru Kenyatta as the next chairman of the five-nation bloc.
The choice of Kenyatta is a well-calculated move on the part of the
EAC, which will take the western powers by surprise as the rotational
leadership of the bloc was supposed to go to Rwanda first and thereafter
Burundi.
Instead, President Kagame pulled out, citing the need to concentrate
on internal engagements such as next year's 20th genocide anniversary,
which analysts have termed a feeble reason. President Museveni, the
incumbent chairman, will accordingly hand over EAC leadership to
Kenyatta at the end of Saturday's proceedings at the Imperial Royale
hotel in Kampala.
The minister of state for EAC Affairs, Shem Bageine, will also hand
over the chairmanship of the council of ministers to his Kenyan
counterpart. Bageine confirmed that the chairmanship of the community
was supposed to move from Uganda to Rwanda, then Burundi, then Tanzania,
before finally returning to Kenya on a rotational basis.
He, however noted that Rwanda had excused herself and Burundi was not ready.
"The chairmanship has gone back to Kenya on agreement, since Kenya was ready," Bageine said.
But some analysts believe the EAC leaders are using Kenyatta's
chairmanship as a possible shield against the ICC charges. Kenyatta and
his deputy William Ruto, who were elected earlier this year, are facing
charges of crimes against humanity in relation to their roles in the
2008 post-election violence in Kenya.
Uganda and Rwanda in particular and the African Union in general have
been pushing for the suspension of the charges. Last week the UN
Security Council voted to reject this idea.
Fred Mukasa Mbidde, a Ugandan representative in the East African
Legislative Assembly (EALA), says Kenya's chairmanship of the community
means a lot for both embattled leaders.
