Kenya not worried by Obama snub

The government Tuesday said it was not worried that US President Barack Obama was not coming to Kenya during his African tour next month.

It further denied that Mr Obama would not be visiting due to the crimes against humanity charges of its leaders.

Next month, President Obama will start his first African tour since he was re-elected, visiting Senegal, Tanzania and South Africa, but his itinerary bypasses Kenya, where his father was born.

“America, just like Kenya, is an independent country and its president has the democratic right to visit wherever he wants,” Government spokesman Muthui Kariuki told AFP.

“Kenya is moving on with its development agenda and we continue to be part of the League of Nations. We are not worried that he is not coming to Kenya. We are fine.” (League of Nations lasted from November 15 1920 to April 1946 when it was dissolved and its properties and assets handed over to the United Nations Organisation.)

President Kenyatta and deputy William Ruto, elected in March, both face trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague for their alleged roles in orchestrating deadly post-election violence in 2007-8.

A US administration official said on condition of anonymity that President Kenyatta’s election had been a complicating factor in setting Mr Obama’s schedule in Africa, but the government spokesman dismissed such reports.

“There have been rumours that President Obama is avoiding Kenya because of the ongoing ICC cases,” he said. “These are unfounded accusations.”

Obama visited Kenya in 2006, shortly after he was elected to the Senate. He was elected US President in 2008.

Yesterday, US ambassador to Kenya Robert Godec said even though the US deeply valued its relationship with Kenya it was not possible for him to travel to every country.

He assured Kenyans that the US was still very much committed to its long standing partnership with them. “We regret that the President cannot travel to every country; but our long standing 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,” Mr Godec told the Nation.

Mr Godec however said the President’s trip to East Africa would underscore the region’s economic potential and highlight Washington’s desire to deepen trade and investment ties in the region, Kenya included.

“Since its independence in 1963, Kenya has been one of America’s strongest and most enduring partners in Africa. Our partnership is based on a shared commitment to democracy, security and opportunity. The United States remains committed to our partnership with the government and people of Kenya,” he said.

Asked whether Mr Obama will ever come to Kenya or would he have come to the country if the situation with the ICC was different or had Kenyans chosen other leaders, Mr Godec replied; “ We do not have any information on President Obama’s future travel plans.”

According to Prof Macharia Munene, an International Relations lecturer at the United States International University and his colleague Prof David Kikaya, a visit by President Obama to any country sends a positive message on their relations with the US.

Prof Munene said in Tanzania’s case for instance, the visit was likely to open up more business opportunities which will in turn increase American investments in the country.

“There has been a lot US investment in Tanzania of late for instance in the oil and gas sectors especially in the south. With the President’s visit, we are likely to see more investments along these lines and others,” he said, noting that the choice of country to be visited by any leader was mainly influenced by their interests.

“You can remember that Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Tanzania in March where they signed an agreement to develop the Bagamoyo port. I suspect that the US is worried by these overtures and the President’s visit could be seen as a countermove,” he says.

Prof Kikaya, also a foreign relations expert, said: “Kenya has always been a strategic partner to the US. It is a strong Washington ally. Choosing to visit Tanzania, the US feels it has more to gain from the country than its traditional ally. It is just safeguarding its interests.”