Ouko met Thatcher to discuss ‘political tensions’ in Kenya months before coup

The High Commission report says that while the former Foreign Minister was “pro-Moi in the days when Moi was anti-Odinga, he has never been on bad terms with Odinga himself and was quite prepared to give up his leadership of the Luo parliamentary group in Odinga’s favour.

“He has been made to look rather inconsequential…But many besides Ouko have been discomforted by Moi’s sudden about –turn.

“A Cabinet re-shuffle is in the offing (but) my (it is signed by J. R Williams, the then UK High Commissioner) not entirely confident bet is that Ouko will keep his present post.”

Topical issue

The secret Cabinet documents also provide a fascinating insight into another highly topical issue of the day, with regard to the position of the then President Milton Obote in Uganda.

The instability of Obote’s position and the withdrawal of Tanzanian troops from the country clearly had the British anxious about future developments.

The minutes talk of trying to persuade Dr Ouko that “everything should be done to ensure that he (Obote) did not seek support from Gaddafi or the Soviet Union.”

Mrs Thatcher was also told that “the Kenyan government had done what it could to stifle the Ugandan refugees in Uganda agitating against Obote.”

In an extensive meeting, Mrs Thatcher and Obote also discussed North-South relations, the UN Conference of Renewable Sources of Energy, Kenya Oil import problem and “the destabilising influence of the Libyan presence in Chad.”