By Dan Mwangi
On August 4 the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in the country with a coded message to the principals that largely dwelt on the need to hold a free and fair General Election.
The citizenry is coalesced around a homogeneous thought; that coming General Election must be free and fair. This is one of our country’s primary objectives, which has been domesticated by Wanjiku at the grassroots to the President at the top. Further, all institutions of Government are burning midnight oil to ensure that elections are fair.
Recently, Kenya has been treated to all sorts of visits 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 Government’s part by sending her to Kenya.
Interestingly, her visits usually cause untold traffic snarl-up that inconveniences innocent motorists with a bloated security detail. More so the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 in Article 41(1) clearly states, “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 the country 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, the military entered Somalia with the aim of weeding out Al-Shabaab that has caused untold suffering to the citizenry. But the Americans, major proponents of anti-terrorism efforts, chose to stay on the sideline and watch from a distance.
Clinton’s visit comes in the wake of strengthening bilateral relations between Kenya and China, which has slowly been erasing American footprints on the investment landscape in the country. This has left a bitter taste in the mouth 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 this end, the US government should understand that 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.
The writer is a lawyer
