Kenya, US ties under scrutiny as Obama skips country again

Tuesday, May 21st 2013
By GEOFFREY MOSOKU
Kenya: US President Barack Obama is scheduled to tour Africa next month but will skip Kenya again in his second trip to the continent.
In his second tour of Africa under his presidency, but the first since his re-election last November, Obama will visit three sub-Saharan countries, including neighbouring Tanzania.
The President and First Lady Michelle will travel to Senegal, South Africa, and Tanzania from June 26 - July 3, according to a statement by State Department.
But like his predecessors, Obama will not make a stop in Kenya, although expectations has been high considering this is the homeland of his late father, who was born at Kogelo in Siaya County.
It is unclear why Obama has skipped the country in a tour the White House has described as “investing in the next generation of African leaders” and “deepening co-operation between the US and the people of Sub-Saharan Africa.”

The development came on a day President Uhuru said his administration was not bothered with Western powers who “have fought us” because his Government’s is concerned about meeting its pledges to Kenyans.
Addressing rallies on the way from Nyeri to Nairobi, President Uhuru said the views of Western nations would not distract his Government and the work it will do to Kenyans will awe “even the foreigners who fight us very hard.”  “Our main concern is to work hard and uplift the economy of this country. We are going to work so well until our foreign detractors are amazed,” said Uhuru.
US Ambassador to Kenya Robert Godec yesterday said Washington remains committed to its partnership with the Government and people of Kenya but regretted the President couldn’t visit every country.
“President Obama and the United States deeply value the relationship with the Government and people of Kenya.  We regret that the President cannot travel to every country, but our longstanding commitment remains to all of our African partners, and to the people of Africa, as we look to deepen our partnership with nations across the region,” Godec said.
Vice-President Joe Biden is the top ranking US official to have visited Kenya.  The nearest that a President of the world super power has been close to Kenya is 230 kilometres, when both retired US President George Bush (Jnr) and Bill Clinton visited Arusha in Tanzania.
The State Department announced that the US President will meet with a wide array of leaders from government, business, and civil society, including youth, to discuss strategic partnerships on bilateral and global issues.
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“The trip will underscore the President’s commitment to broadening and deepening cooperation between the United States and the people of Sub-Saharan Africa to advance regional and global peace and prosperity,” it added.
The US State Department’s decision has been attributed to the election of Uhuru and William Ruto as President and Deputy President respectively. The two face criminal charges at International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.
However, the Government through spokesman Muthui Kariuki said that Kenya was not concerned by Obama’s decision since the US leader was free to visit wherever he wanted.
“ Kenya is moving on with its development agenda and we continue being part of the League of Nations and we are not worried at all that he is not coming to Kenya,” Kariuki said.
Leader of Majority Aden Duale and chair of Parliament Foreign Relations and Defence Committee Ndung’u Githinji dismissed Obama’s supposed snub as inconsequential.
“ Kenya did not invite him (Obama), so I don’t see any reason for fussing,” Duale said while adding that Obama can visit any country if he wants.
Githinji added; “ Kenya is concentrating its energies on strategic countries of trade partnership mainly in Africa.”  University of Nairobi political scientist Joshua Kivuva and his USIU counterpart Munene Macharia said the election of Uhuru and Ruto may just be one of the reasons, but not necessary the main reason.
“Whenever an American President visits, there is a reward for what they do in terms of democratisation process; an area where Kenya scores the least,” Dr Kivuva said and added that it was unlikely for Obama to tour Kenya especially with an Uhuru presidency.  However, Prof Macharia opined that Obama may be responding to Chinese President, who in his first tour of the continent visited the same countries.