What Kibaki and Raila told Clinton

By Oscar Obonyo

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga heads must roll for the reform agenda to move forward, we have learnt.

During two private meetings, the President and Prime Minister, too, protested that perhaps Washington was not getting proper briefing from US Ambassador Michael Ranneberger on the pace of reforms.

By complaining about Ranneberger to the US top diplomat, Nairobi was essentially delivering a protest note and pressing for his recall.

The US wanted Kenya to particularly act on Prof Phillip Alston’s report on extra judicial killings, which called for the sacking of Police Commissioner Hussein Ali and Attorney General Amos Wako.

She delivered a tough message that high-profile Government officers believed to be the "very epitome of impunity" now frustrating reforms must be shown the door.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

The UN Special Rapporteur described Wako as "embodiment of impunity."

Others Clinton reportedly said must be replaced include, Chief Justice Evan Gicheru and Director of Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission Aaron Ringera.

These top officials head institutions that have come under heavy criticism by the Obama Administration. During the Cabinet meeting last month, the Government resolved to reform the Judiciary and police.

But the President and Prime Minister reportedly expressed concern over Washington’s attacks on Nairobi, telling Clinton the criticism was perhaps premised on inaccurate information.

"The President and Prime Minister were equally shocked and disturbed by Clinton’s attacks. It was apparently clear to them that Washington was not adequately informed of the ongoing reform progress," a Cabinet minister privy to the meetings, but who declined to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue, told The Standard on Sunday.

According to the minister, the two principals accused Ranneberger and his Kenyan counterpart in the US, Peter Ogego of failing in their duty. They felt Ranneberger was not briefing Washington properly while Ogego was not doing enough to spruce up the country’s image.

Clinton jetted into the country last Tuesday breathing fire, but left with a deeper appreciation of the political intricacies and complexities facing the country.

Separately, the PM expressed concern over poor communication between Nairobi and Washington during the closing of the 15th biennial Kenya ambassadors/high commissioners’ conference in Mombasa on July 31.

"We feel that the role the President and the Prime Minister and our parties played in stabilising the country has not been recognised and understood abroad," he said.

Raila was even more precise by suggesting the need to particularly "strengthen our presence at the UN and in Washington, DC."

Wildlife and Forestry Minister Noah Wekesa said the Obama Administration could be in the dark: "Judging from their (US Government) persistent harsh criticism, there is no doubt there is misinformation or lack of information on the progress so far by the two principals."

Response was based on PM’s observations

And responding to a question during an open public forum at University of Nairobi, Clinton partly let out details of her meeting with Kibaki and Raila.

"Well, I had a good conversation with him (PM) and I told him I was carrying a message of a son of Kenya, Barack Obama," Clinton said, when asked what she thought of Raila’s warning on Tuesday (before she arrived) that Africa does not need lectures on management of her affairs from foreigners.

What the Secretary of State did not admit publicly is that her response was based on the PM’s observations during the private meeting and not his earlier pronouncement at the opening of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) forum.

Asked to expound on his apparent criticism of the US, the PM told The Standard on Sunday that his observation was persuaded by the fact that Western nations appeared to have different marking schemes for different countries.

"We must have some clear and uniform prescription for all. What we are being treated to now are standards reserved for Africa," says the Premier.

Questioned whether he confronted Clinton with similar sentiments, the PM declined to confirm or deny, maintaining, "details of the meeting were confidential."

During their talks, Clinton is said to have pushed for the trial of post-election violence suspects through a local tribunal. But the two principals reportedly stood their ground pointing out that a hostile Parliament stood in their way.

Some of the reforms in question would require a constitutional amendment, which needs three-quarter threshold in the House to pass. This, they pointed out was not feasible.