New US envoy says no let-up in fight against graft

The new US ambassador to Kenya is promising to push the agenda of fighting corruption and improving the justice system during his tenure.

Maj-Gen (Rtd) Scott Gration also plans to pick up the baton from his predecessor Michael Ranneberger in spearheading the messages of political accountability.

“We are different personalities, but I think you will see some similarities, in the messages that Michael Ranneberger brought up because those messages were not his, they were from our government,” said the envoy, a good speaker of Kiswahili.

“I will be representing our government’s position on a lot of issues,” he said of Mr Ranneberger’s just-ended era.

While in Kenya, Mr Ranneberger pushed for the youth empowerment programme that some politicians interpreted to mean he was preparing the youngsters for a regime change.

His private briefs with US authorities, exposed through WikiLeaks, brought out some embarrassing conversations, which were met with discomfort by top government officials.

But Mr Gration could not directly dwell on details of his approach to some of his issues terming his first encounter with journalists on Friday a “mere introduction”.

But he gave a hint of what would be his most urgent tasks as he settles down to work: Fighting corruption, improving the justice system, and increasing political accountability, which, he said, remained key issues in the country.

Accountability systems, he said, should be beefed up to attract and boost the confidence of foreign investors. “They need to know their money is safe,” he said of foreign investors.

The ambassador also said Kenya needed to boost its systems of justice.

“If there is a system where people are held accountable when they commit crimes… If they are accountable at the political level for the revenues that they get, where people know you don’t have to give a bribe to get a job done, that is going to create a business environment and a living environment and a political environment that will help us bring the investment that Kenya needs to flourish,” he said.

Mr Gration promised to maintain the development programmes his predecessor Michael Ranneberger espoused.

The agenda Mr Ranneberger was pushing, he said, was not personal but a government position. “Everybody is different but there can be similarities (and differences),” he said.

The ambassador said he plans to continue working with Kenya and help improve the livelihoods of its citizens. The US, he said, will continue to see Kenya as a key ally in the region.

The envoy hoped Kenya’s strategic location meant the country cannot afford to ignore the situations of its neighbours. Specifically, he spoke of the need to give special attention to Somalia.

Mr Gration said that refugees flocking into Kenya were a big security threat. As an expert on security issues, the envoy said he could provide much needed advice.

“My military background means I am familiar with security issues,” he said. Mrs Gration said although Nairobi had changed greatly from the time the she was last here, “I still love the people and animals of Kenya.”

The Nation spoke to the ambassador:

Some former US envoys have acquired the reputation for outspokenness and directness. What will be your style?

Everybody is different and I think you will see some similarities in the issues that Michael Ranneberger brought up because those messages were not his, they were from our government.

They will be the same messages that I give because I will be representing our government’s position on a lot of issues.

But I think maybe what you may see is different is that everybody has their own personality, they have their own style, they have their own approach and I certainly want us to work as equal partners.

America sees Kenya as a very strong leader in the region, we’ve had a long relationship with Kenya, as political allies, as security allies, and economic allies and we need to strengthen those relations.

I will also say I am a guest in your country and I want to act like a good guest, but we also need Kenya to act as a good host.

You have worked in countries neighbouring Kenya. What do you see in terms of using your experience in your work here?

You have raised an excellent point and there is nothing that happens in Africa that doesn’t spill over and so we really do need to look at Kenya within the regional context, and that means we need to understand Somalia.

That means we have to understand piracy. That means we have to understand trade between the two countries or countries that are in the region.

That means we have to understand what the impact of a new country in Southern Sudan will bring.

We just need to think about what Kenya’s trying to accomplish, domestically and internationally and how we can be partners in making that happen.

We will look at Kenya in a very comprehensive way and we won’t just focus on one issue. Its not just about reform even though that’s on top of the agenda, but its about how Kenya can bring social services to its people.

We wish to help Kenya with security issues so that Kenyans aren’t harmed by terrorist acts. All these things will be done with priority but we have to do them with the Kenyan leadership.

Given your experience, what special qualities do you bring to this country?

I bring three different things. The first is a military background, so I understand security. I was in the Twin Towers (America) when that 9/11 bomb went off.

I’m very familiar with security issues. I’m very familiar with Kenya’s security issues since I flew with the Kenya Air Force and I think I can help on those security issues.

I will also bring a background on diplomacy. I was the head of the military or the Air Force’s international or international affairs offices.

I was responsible for strategy and plans and policy for 93 different countries in Europe, Asia and Africa. I worked as the President’s Special Envoy to Sudan so I have a lot of diplomatic experience.

Have you identified any specific issues on defence, diplomacy that you wish to enhance?

I think its to Kenya’s benefit to have systems of justice, systems of representation that really represent the will of the people and when there is an election, it should be peaceful, transparent and credible so that people know that their will has been listened to.

Accountability is something that is helping business development in Kenya. It’s now we are losing out on some business contracts.

We are losing out on investments. We are losing out on tourism because people don’t feel that their money is safe in Kenya.

We have to change this environment. If there is a system where people are held accountable when they commit crimes, carjacking and those kinds of things; if they are accountable at the political level for the revenues that they get, that’s going to create an environment that will help us bring the investment that Kenya needs to flourish.

Do I sense that corruption and accountability are some of your most immediate priorities?

Yes, those will always be an issue for our government.

But its an issue for the Kenya Government because these issues are now impacting business development, tourism and Kenyans in their way of life.

And, at some point, these have to be addressed. They are not American issues, these are Kenyan issues.