MONDAY, 2.40PM
WORLD famous Kenyan conservationist and palaeontologist Richard Leakey was today refused permission to register a political party called Safina, Swahili for ‘Noah’s Ark”, because it was likely to promote actions “prejudicial to peace”.
The decision marks a breach of an agreement by the Kenyan government, which recently said it would register all political parties — some of which have waited years for official approval — in the run-up to elections later this year.
Leakey’s Safina was founded more than two years ago, but has been unable to register. A letter sent to Safina this week by the Registrar of Societies Omondi Mbago said: “It appears to me that (Safina) has among its objects or is likely to pursue or to be used for, any unlawful purpose or any purpose prejudicial to or incompatible with peace, welfare and good order in Kenya.” He also said the name of the party was undesirable.
Leakey said the wording of the letter was drawn from a British colonial law enacted to clamp down on Kenyan freedom fighters. “The KANU (ruling Kenya African National Union party) government wants to continue in power, retaining the status quo, and they know that Safina enjoys countrywide respect and support.”
“The KANU clique dare not face Safina in a fair contest, and not being quite sure of their ability to rig every province, KANU prefers no contest at all with Safina.” he added. General elections are expected before the end of the year.
Leakeya third-generation white Kenyan, said the decision not to legalise Safina was preceded by “a campaign of vilification, much of it racist and tribal,” by President Daniel arap Moi, who has frequently attacked Leakey in public, describing the man he once appointed head of Kenya’s wildlife service as a “colonialist”.
Leakey visited South Africa a week ago, where he gave a public lecture castigating African conservation authorities for trying to “put a price tag” on wild life.