News Analysis By Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City
The casual way and manner with which the Kenyan Minister for Foreign Affairs Sam Ongeri had handled the sensitive diplomatic exchanges between Kenyan leaders and the EU countries ambassadors to Kenya on the need to have fair and free elections was a big diplomatic goof.
And the said could be said of the recent brotherly caution and advice by the US President Barrack Obama was a big diplomatic blunder if not an act of miscalculation and underestimation of facts.
Ongeri’s reaction had reduced the sensitive diplomatic issue to be of a simple and petty local political party affair between the competing Jubilee and Cord alliances.
The Minister’s utterances did not measure up to the international diplomatic standards. He down played the important role the EU envoys are playing to Kenya and the important part their countries contributions to or national budgetary system and development activities.
The Minister further displayed his total ignorance about the pivotal role the EU member states are playing as key development and economic partners of Kenya. He ought to have been well briefed and knew that the EU states are state parties to the Rome Statue and are its members bound by its legal obligation as much as is Kenya.
In the same context I am tempted to ask a question about the cardinal role played by the NCIC, which appeared to be ineffective and looked like a simple talking shop. The NCIC is like a toothless bull-dog, therefore its members and the executive director Dr. Mzalendo Kibunja were simply milking the public coffers. The commission should be dissolved with immediate effect, because it has failed to live to the expectation of the peace –loving Kenyans.
Kenyans from all walks of life are increasingly getting worried about the casual manner with which, the politicians, particularly those vying for the presidency have defiantly ignored NCIC repeated warning about the hate speeches.
In this context, I have in mind the speeches made by the Jubilee presidential candidate Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta and his running –mate William Samoei Ruto during the letters recent tour of the Nandi County.
Many people were shocked and taken aback when the two made reckless statements at their campaign rally in Nandi County. Without any provocation fro any quarters the two principals leaders of the Jubilee Alliance, made unfounded allegations attacking the EU countries and the United States of America saying the two institutions were issuing threats and intimidation to scare their Kenyan supporters.
‘These nations must stop playing about issues they should come out openly and tell Kenyans that they are supporting the Prime Minister Raila Odinga.”We will not have a problem with that,” said Ruto.What an unfortunate statement?
Ruto was further quoted by all the dailies as saying that a number of Western nations including the US and Great Britain have already warned Kenyans of the consequences should they the elect the two ICC suspect
Ruto further alleged that what America and the UK had done was tantamount to violence tom intimidate KENYA VOTERS. Perhaps Kenyatta an Ruto were playing local politic s of provoking tribal emotions
Ruto’s frequent mentioning of Raila Odinga’s name in a derogatory manner and negatively whenever he opens up his public addresses, an action that carries risk wiping out the emotions of Raila supporters.
What were the NCIC agents doing. Did such remarks not amounting to hate speeches? Or the NCIC would like to wait until the supporters of the two camps get embroiled into physical confrontation.
Ends