Raila’s itinerary in United States visit generates lots of needless controversy

The State Department has admitted an “error” which led to the withdrawal of a Kenyan invitation to a luncheon hosted by President Barack Obama, causing confusion in Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s itinerary.

Mr Odinga was, however, kept busy. On Friday night he was scheduled to address the 64th Session of the UN General Assembly.

On Wednesday, he had a photo-opportunity with the US leader at one of the numerous receptions for visiting delegations.

Previous day

But the previous day, Tuesday, Mr Odinga was not at the luncheon, hosted by President Obama for African leaders.

The invitation had been sent to President Kibaki, who asked Mr Odinga to represent Kenya since he was already travelling to the US for the UN meeting and other engagements with a foundation run by former US president Bill Clinton.

President Kibaki made the decision at a meeting attended by Mr Odinga and Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka at his office.

The Prime Minister left for the US at the head of a delegation comprising Foreign Affairs minister Moses Wetang’ula and Cabinet colleagues John Michuki (Environment), Wycliffe Oparanya (Planning) and Beth Mugo (Public Health).

In the meantime, the US had “disinvited” the Kenyan team on the basis that President Kibaki was not attending as it was exclusively for heads of state and government.

Nairobi first learnt of the “disinvitation” from Kenyan ambassador to Washington, Mr Rateng Ogego and the ambassador to the UN in New York, Mr Zachary Muburi-Muita.

The “disinvite” which both the State Department and US Embassy in Nairobi now admit was a blunder, generated a great deal of local political flak focusing on ODM-PNU rivalries.

There were even claims that a PNU grouping in President Kibaki’s inner circle had intervened to have Mr Odinga “disinvited” to the Waldorf Astoria Hotel function.

Much of the conspiracy theories ignored the fact that early in the saga, Mr Odinga’s office had consistently clarified that he had other engagements and had no private meeting scheduled with President Obama.

Spokesman Dennis Onyango said the PM met the US President on Wednesday at a White House-sponsored reception for leaders attending the UN General Assembly as well as at a luncheon hosted by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

The White House event was held at the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art in New York while the UN chief’s luncheon was at the organisation’s staff restaurant.

Prime Minister Odinga and President Obama got the opportunity to renew acquaintances and exchange pleasantries as well as pose for a picture with their spouses.

Mr Muburi-Muita told Saturday Nation in New York that he was not at the Metropolitan Museum reception where President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama posed for photographs with many of the leaders present.

Mr Onyango, said President Obama and the PM talked about reforms in Kenya, with the US leader urging the PM to push harder on reforms and saying “he wishes Kenya well and would like to see it succeed.”

Mr Onyango said the two leaders also discussed the Mau Forest issue, the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission impasse over Justice Aaron Ringera and reforms in the police force.

At the same time, the US First Family inquired about their relatives in Kenya, with Michelle asking about the welfare of President Obama’s grandmother, Sarah Obama.

Mama Sarah

“She asked the PM’s wife Ida to keep an eye on Mama Sarah,” said Mr Onyango.

Mr Odinga’s advisor Salim Lone said the two leaders on Wednesday met very briefly at a luncheon at which they agreed to talk that evening at the White House reception at the Metropolitan Museum.

The talk at the museum lasted about five minutes, said Mr Lone who described it as a “very friendly” exchange.

On Saturday, Mr Odinga is scheduled to meet Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the UN’s Mr Ban Ki-moon and other world leaders to talk about food security issues, Mr Lone said.

The advisor added that Mr Odinga on Thursday met Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Johnnie Carson for nearly 45 minutes at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

Mr Carson has dispatched letters to top Kenyan government officials applying pressure on them to support reforms.

The US government has threatened to impose a visa ban on the officials — who include Cabinet ministers — and block aid to Kenya.

Mr Lone says the Carson-Odinga talks were “very honest and friendly.”

“They covered a wide range of issues — not just the US insistence on moving the reform agenda forward. Security matters were also discussed, as was the food crisis,” he said.

“Differences between friends” were also examined, he added.