Raila Odinga’s unexpectedly short mock swearing-in ceremony as Kenya’s “Peoples President” in central Nairobi today marked the end to his long struggle for power. Not even his designated vice president showed up.
Many thousands of supporters filled Nairobi’s central park clearly hoping for the start of a prolonged if violent struggle but dispersed quietly after Odinga hopped into his car and sped away hardly a half hour after he had arrived. By late afternoon it was business as usual in downtown Nairobi, and the real government was suddenly more stable and powerful than ever.
You might not have noticed the cheering but there are some serious praises coming out of Africa for Trumpism.
Each constantly starved for attention, an American and an African leader in DAVOS today separately made news with their patently disingenuous pitches: the American Trump that he wants free trade, and Zimbabwe’s Mnangagwa that he 
Today Cape Town authorities announced that the city’s water supply will likely end in 80 days. The normal dry season extends into April. “Day Zero” on April 15 presumes Capetonians will continue restricting themselves to 50 liters of water daily.
A couple things worth taking away from the 
The Number #6 story in Africa for 2017 was the loss of journalistic freedom and the ensuing loss of news for Africans.
Racism is the first 
To my colleagues and friends in Africa:
The West’s loss of moral authority has created a vacuum. The rise of far-right movements and the election of President Donald Trump has buoyed the anti-democratic forces in Africa. I didn’t 
The #2 of 
Diplomacy with North Korea, now Pakistan and other Middle East actors has arguably always been more important for the U.S. than diplomacy with Africa. My better knowledge is with the diplomacy of Africa, and what I saw happening over the course of 2017 remains terrifying.
In hindsight even as adults we behaved like children. We never shook off the mantle of goofiness justifying our exaggeration, so that now when it’s absolutely true that “there’s never been a time like this before” it’s hard for us to accept it.