The vicious media attacks on President Kibaki by the UK delegation to Kenya and the European Union (EU) over his refusal to meet the delegates is by extension an attack on Kenya as a free State.
Kenya is no longer under imperial rule and thus has no responsibility to bend over backwards to heed to the calls of the international community. As a matter of fact, what Kenya owes the international community is respect founded on mutual understanding and not one forced by a history of colonialism.
What the recent altercation between the country and the UK has done is to dent the affable relations between Kenya and some of the European league of countries with interest in Kenya.
Furthermore, by openly attacking the president in a bare-knuckle melee, it is by extension an attack on the people of Kenya.
Both the UK and EU must re-evaluate their individual and collective responsibility and interests and consequently make the honourable adjustment of respecting Kenyans and their national leader.
Peter Mshefa, Kilif
In the past few days, there have been reports from the UK and EU offices and representatives in Nairobi claiming President Kibaki is inaccessible.
Sovereign state
Kenya is a sovereign State and does not owe it to her former coloniser to bend over backwards just because an envoy has been sent by the Queen of England to come and have tea with the President.
In any case, the President must be pre-occupied with issues of national importance to pay attention to every Tom, Dick and Harry who may want to pop in to see him without any significant agenda.
The UK and EU must give the President the respect he deserves.
Salome Nashipai, Nakuru
