Hague to visit Kenya in horn of Africa tour

British Foreign Secretary William Hague is expected to visit Kenya on Friday after a tour of Somalia’s capital Mogadishu on Thursday.

Mr Hague is the first high ranking British official to visit Kenya since the Kibaki-led coalition government took office following the 2007 post-election violence.

A statement from the UK High Commission in Nairobi said Mr Hague will address and field questions from journalists at 3 pm.

Britain has been Kenya’s most significant ally in the West.

It is however not clear what the purpose of Mr Hague’s visit to Kenya is and the people he is scheduled to meet.

Sources however said the implementation of the constitution, the coming General Elections, the war against Al-Shabaab and attachment of gay rights to aid are to feature prominently.

Britain is hosting a conference on Somalia in London later this month, to be attended by representatives of 50 countries in international organisations.

Mr Hague’s historic visit to Mogadishu on Thursday followed political and security improvements in Somalia.

It is the first visit by a British Foreign Secretary to Mogadishu since 1992, a year after Somalia plunked into civil war following the overthrow of dictator Siad Barre.

A Somalia MP Awad Ahmed Ashareh said Mr Hague met Somalia’s President, Prime Minister and the Mayor of Mogadishu to stress the importance his country attached to the completion of political transition in August.

Mr Hague is said to have told the leaders that while Somalia's problems could not be resolved overnight, the UK hoped that the conference will act as a catalyst for a new, long term international and Somali effort.

But speaking to the Nation on phone, Mr Ashareh dismissed the UK’s efforts to bring stability to Somalia saying it came too late.

“Why are they now showing interest after more than 20 years of instability in Somalia. We suspect that the UK only wants to bring more crisis to the country,” Mr Ashareh said, adding that little time had also been slated for Somalia speakers during the coming London conference.

Mr Ashareh said the UK should have directed its resources in fighting piracy in Somalia waters by strengthening the horn of Africa country’s marines.

Britain, Mr Ashareh added, should further have helped end dumping of toxic in Somalia waters by western countries and strengthen Somalia institutions for stability.

Mr Ashareh said Somalis worldwide were organising demonstrations against western countries for failing to help improve the capacity of Transitional Federal Government “and instead ignoring our sovereignty and engaging in autocracy.”

Mr Ashareh said British did little to build Somalia when it colonised for 75 years and that it should now respect its sovereignty.

The MP said the international community should involved Somalis in making decisions affecting the country.