We are pleased to introduce ISIL rep James Shikwati of Nairobi, Kenya.
After a century of socialist tyranny and the terrible poverty and violence that followed on the heels of the
colonial period, libertarian ideas and networks have suddenly begun to emerge throughout Africa.
James Shikwati, we are happy to report, is on the cutting edge of this wave of change.
James first came to discover libertarian ideas when he read Frédéric
Bastiat's remarkable little classic The Law – a book published by FEE (the Foundation
for Economic Education). He was greatly moved by Bastiat's rigorous logic and sensed that ideas like
this could have a powerful impact on a statist Kenya.
Since this discovery, James maintained a dialogue with our good friend
Lawrence W. Reed, President of the Mackinac Center
for Public Policy – and in recent years he has been discovered by the
Atlas Economic Research Foundation – and ISIL.
A NEW THINK TANK
In the year 2000 James made a critical career move, quitting his teaching post to move to Nairobi,
the capital of Kenya – where in 2001 he founded the
Inter-Region Economic Network (IREN) – East Africa's first free-market research and educational
institute.
James has many qualities that have enabled him to be so effective in
advancing the cause of liberty. He has been described as "charismatic, dedicated, dogged, articulate"
by Jo Kwong, director of Institute Relations for Atlas.
He has been quick to zero in on the reasons why so many African countries
have been so hopelessly mired in poverty.
"The main reason for poverty and unsustainable development in Africa, Asia and South America is
oppression by incompetent, violent, and corrupt governments – and an attendant lack of property
rights and the rule of law."
He also explained that increased foreign "aid" to the governments of
poor countries, whilst well-intentioned, more often than not reduces the accountability of these
governments to their citizens and encourages corruption – while undermining incentives to reform.
See ISIL's pamphlet - The Disaster of Foreign Aid
Programs by Ken Schoolland.
NETWORKING WITH BLACK AFRICA
Many young people from across Africa, inspired by the work initiated
by James, have kept asking for ideas on how to emulate IREN and set up free-market institutes in their
own countries. To this end, a pan-African network has been gradually developing. Numerous conferences
have been held in Nairobi to which movement luminaries such as ISIL Advisory Board member Leon Louw of
the Free Market Foundation of Southern Africa, ISIL rep Barun Mitra of the Liberty Institute in New Delhi, India, and many others have spoken. James has also established a special website to facilitate networking
among Africans – the Africa Resource Bank.
This site is being hosted by ISIL on our server.
BOOK PUBLISHING
In September, 2002, IREN published (with funding from
ISIL) a Kiswahili version of ISIL Director Ken Schoolland's prize-winning free-market fable "The
Adventures of Jonathan Gullible". Kiswahili is the primary local language in not only Kenya, but also
Uganda and Tanzania. This has enabled James to extend his outreach to these countries.
Through James's promotional efforts, the Kenyan Educational Ministry has just designated Jonathan
Gullible for the national economics curriculum.
James has also published a Kiswahili edition of Frederic Bastiat's
classic The Law. Click here for
ISIL report.
James Shikwati and IREN are proof positive that ideas can motivate
and make a difference. The seeds of a brighter, freer Africa are now being planted in Nairobi. In
time, the work James has commenced may liberate millions. Where there was stagnation and despair,
there is now good reason to have hope for the Dark Continent.
For more background on James Shikwati click
here.
International Society for Individual Liberty
> Liberty Profile: James Shikwati – Kenya
