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| Dan Mwangi |
Foreign Envoys Should let Kenya Chart her own Destiny
On 4th August 2012 the US Secretary of state
Hillary Clinton arrived in the country with a coded message to the two
principals that largely dwelt on the need to hold a free and fair general
election come March 4th 2013.
Well as at the moment, the citizenry is coalesced around a
homogeneous thought; that the upcoming general must be free and fair. This is
one of our countries primary objective that is domesticated by wanjiku at the grassroots to the President
at the top of power echelons. Further, all institutions of government are
burning their midnight oil to ensure that elections have an efficacy.
But in the recent period, Kenya has been treated to all
sorts of visitations from high ranking foreign envoys, making specific
reference to Clinton’s visit, with a pathological penchant for issuing
unsolicited lectures which are based on their veiled imagination of what the
country needs. Indeed welcoming Clinton and entertaining her only shows lack of
priority on our part or on the American Governments part by sending her to
Kenya.
Interestingly, her visits usually cause untold traffic snarl
–ups that inconveniences innocent motorists with a bloated security detail-
which by the way is only a propaganda tool that accentuates US position as a
superpower but in reality it’s an utter misuse of American Taxpayers money.
More so the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of
1961 in Article 41(1) clearly states that “without prejudice to their
privileges and immunities, it is the duty of all persons enjoying such
privileges and immunities to respect the law and regulations of the receiving
state. They also have a duty not to interfere in the internal affairs of that
state” clearly this is a guideline that Clinton and her compatriots choose to
ignore, much to the chagrin of majority of Kenyans.
Indeed the US to date still holds dear the spirit of Monroe
Doctrine of 1823 which aimed at opening up Latin Americas markets to US
traders. Through their flagship company, United Fruits Company, the US
harvested the rich resources of Latin America and in some extremities propped
up unpopular regimes as long as they sustained this parasitic relationship. And
when African countries attained independence in the mid sixties, it equally saw
an opportunity in the resource largesse of the continent where it quickly
formulated a policy, which was merely a revised copy of the Munroe Doctrine of
1823. Despotic regimes could be insulated as long as they played to the music,
but countries with no known value were given a wide Berth.
No wonder it was not surprising that the US dwelt in the galleries
when the Rwandan genocide was unfolding in 1994 because Rwanda lacks any known
minerals like oil that can be exploited. But today, high ranking US government
officials litter the streets of Kigali bearing large sacks of goodies to the
Rwandese Government in a bid to save face.
Back in Kenya, our defense forces recently made a surge in
Somalia with an aim of weeding out Al- Shabaab that has caused excessive
trepidation among the citizenry with their uncivilized and heinous criminal
activities like grenade attacks and kidnappings, not to mention piracy
activities. But the Americans, major proponents of anti-terrorism efforts,
chose to stay on the sideline and watch from a distance. Well, progress report
from the field indicate that our Defenses forces have made major strides in
attainment of their mission and with support from AMISON forces, it is a matter
of time before Al-Shabaab and other militia groups are relegated to history.
Never mind that this progress is without support from the US. Recall that in
1993 the US Defense forces attempted such a similar mission albeit with
disastrous results and the thought of military intervention in Somalia gives
them goose bumps.
Bear in mind that her visit comes in the wake of strengthening
relations between Kenya and her trade ally China which has slowly been erasing
American footprints on the investment landscape in the country. This has left a
bitter taste in the mouths of US government officials, no wonder we get treated
to unsolicited visitations carrying footnote opinion that has no value to the
common mwananchi. Not that Chinese are better than Americans but sometimes when
you interact with the devil himself, his agents appear to mirror an image of
benevolence.
To these end, the US government should understand that a
sizable majority of the citizenry know what they want and are tirelessly
working towards building institutions and capacities that guarantees peaceful
coexistence with one another. Therefore we abhor unsolicited “advices” which
border on interference in our internal affairs as a state.
Dann Mwangi
The writer is a Lawyer
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