Softening of the West towards Uhuru welcome

The recent election campaign from which President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto emerged as the nation’s next leaders drew great attention across the world.

Both men have been indicted by the International Criminal Court in The Hague for their suspected complicity in 2007/2008 violence that left over 1,000 people dead and nearly half a million violently uprooted from their homes.

Nairobi-based Western diplomats seized every opportunity to remind Kenyans of the possibility of global isolation and possible sanctions should they vote in ICC inductees.

In response, the Uhuru-Ruto duo campaigned on a barely disguised anti-western platform which sought to imply that the US and some European countries were intent on derailing their ambitions. At the same time they projected the ICC as a tool deployed by the West for this particular purpose.

The virulent exchanges between the Uhuru campaign and representatives of western powers brought in a sense of trepidation even as his victory was validated by the Supreme Court. There were legitimate concerns of what a direct confrontation with the West, which is a major consumer of Kenyan goods would mean for the economy.

The situation is however rapidly changing. The US and Britain among others have accepted Mr Kenyatta’s victory and signalled willingness to work with his government.
There is little doubt there is an element of self interest on both sides. Kenya occupies a strategic geopolitical position. Besides, many Western conglomerates have profitable franchises based in the country.

Kenya also needs the West. Among those who would have been most worried about the strained ties during the campaigns would be flower and tea farmers whose major customers are in the EU.

Besides, the West offers support for critical sectors such as health and education.

It is good that the worst scenarios have not been realised. The softening of the attitude of the West towards the President-elect and his deputy is welcome.

On his part the new President must reciprocate these friendly gestures and move to establish cooperation based on mutual respect because Kenya needs these development partners to attain its short and long term goals.