Ongeri, UK envoy dispel claims of sour relations

By David Ochami

Kenyan and British officials have moved to forge unity amid allegations of sour relations following a recent disclosure that President Kibaki turned down an invitation to London two years ago.

And when officials of the two countries emerged from a meeting at the Foreign Affairs Ministry,

Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Ongeri welcomes acting UK High Commissioner William Tibber at the ministry’s head office in Nairobi. [PHOTO: BONIFACE OKENDO/STANDARD]

they declared that relations between the two countries were "historical, mutually beneficial and unbreakable".

Foreign Affairs minister Sam Ongeri led his Kenyan team into a meeting with the interim British High Commissioner William Tibber that took close to an hour in a bid to stem the rising tension between the countries.

A statement by Prof Ongeri following talks with Tibber was a significant climb down from bellicose rhetoric by the president’s allies, accusing the UK of bias against Kibaki and international crime suspects William Ruto and Uhuru Kenyatta.

Tibber said the UK expects the next elections in Kenya to be held "peacefully and credibly" but has no "preferred candidate."

Tibber met Ongeri to apparently reset relations battered by recent allegations by the president’s supporters and press reports indicating Kibaki refused to accept an invitation to meet former UK premier Gordon Brown and Queen Elizabeth.

Following the discussions by the two officials they emerged to proclaim that relations between the two nations are neither threatened nor nearing collapse.

Ongeri proclaimed: "We’ve no hitches between Kenya and the British and contrary to press reports "His Excellency President Kibaki has utmost respect for Her Majesty the Queen."

Ongeri said Kibaki failed to visit London not out of spite or disrespect, but because he was busy.

In a statement before the meeting with Tibber, Ongeri’s office wrote of the failed visit:

"In this case, a visit to the United Kingdom in February 2010 was not suitable due to various circumstances and commitments which the President was already engaged in, hence the timing was not convenient."

And Tibber said: "Our bilateral relations are strong and healthy."

Relations between the two nations have been strained for some years under President Kibaki, especially after the 2007/2008 post-election violence and fell to new lows when pro-regime MPs tabled documents alleging a British-led conspiracy to indict Kibaki by the International Criminal Court.

The documents are under investigation by Parliament’s Defence and Foreign Relations Committee.

But on Wednesday the two officials were eager to portray a new beginning with Ongeri claiming there is no setback in bilateral contacts whatsoever.