Half a century of neighbourly tiffs: The complex story of Kenya, Somalia

President Uhuru Kenyatta with President of the Federal Republic of Somalia Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed at State House, Nairobi, on May 30, 2018. [File, Standard]

The Kenyan delegation trooped to Rome like lambs to the slaughter. The charge sheet had been scripted by a belligerent neighbour and the delegates were not supposed to talk.

Like martyrs, Cabinet ministers Tom Mboya, Mbiyu Koinange and James Gichuru walked around Rome, Italy weighed down by the expectations of their motherland. Uhuru was around the corner but Somalia was determined to ruin the birthday party after a 70-year-old wait.