Kofi Annan's message to Kenya's leaders to "listen to the voices of the people" comes at a time when African citizens in Guinea, Nigeria, Gabon, Uganda, Somali and Sudan, among others are prevailing upon their governments to listen to them.

The admonition by the Chief Mediator of the Kenya post-poll crisis is a rebuke to African leaders who have converted their countries into private property; are ravaging their economies with impunity and violate the rule of law.

It will however be difficult for African leaders to listen to their people when they still uphold alien governance structures; education that turns them into raw materials for use by the West and multinational corporates keen to exploit the continent's natural resources at a throw-away price and with total disregard regardless of human rights.

Kofi Annan’s call will materialize if developed nations allow Africans to build their own institutions and African leaders shun sacrificing the interest of their electorate on the altar of short term gains.