US DENIES BREAKING PROTOCOL ON TRAVEL BAN LETTERS FOR KENYAN LEADERS

By HENRY OWUOR and KEVIN KELLEY
DAILY NATION
September 29 2009

President Kibaki apprised Mr Obama on what is happening in Kenya: The abolition of the previous electoral commission and the establishment of a new interim one; and establishment of an independent committee of experts on constitution review.

He told Mr Obama, in part: “Matters between our two countries on public policy is between our two governments, not between individual citizens.

“We take great exception to letters written by your government directly to various government ministers, civil servants and Members of Parliament in their personal capacity on matters of public policy.”

He added: “While your intentions are good, the methods some of your officials have taken in dealing with my government are disturbing.’’

Separately, eight lobbies, led by the Law Society of Kenya, called on the international community yesterday to freeze the assets of the people threatened with sanctions by the US if they do not support reforms and oppose violence.

Financial watchdog Mars Group also supported the travel ban imposed on the 15 Kenyans. President Kibaki apprised Mr Obama on what is happening in Kenya: The abolition of the previous electoral commission and the establishment of a new interim one; and establishment of an independent committee of experts on constitution review.

He told Mr Obama, in part: “Matters between our two countries on public policy is between our two governments, not between individual citizens.

“We take great exception to letters written by your government directly to various government ministers, civil servants and Members of Parliament in their personal capacity on matters of public policy.”

He added: “While your intentions are good, the methods some of your officials have taken in dealing with my government are disturbing.’’

Separately, eight lobbies, led by the Law Society of Kenya, called on the international community yesterday to freeze the assets of the people threatened with sanctions by the US if they do not support reforms and oppose violence.

Financial watchdog Mars Group also supported the travel ban imposed on the 15 Kenyans.

Additional reporting by Lucas Barasa and Kibiwott Koross

Submitted by vgogero
Posted September 30, 2009 06:25 PM

Thank you Bwana Carson for trying to make some of our leaders see sense .The 15 will probably be the first to fly out of the Country if it starts burning again . They should visit Ghana to learn about goo governance practices

Submitted by munni
Posted September 30, 2009 06:18 PM

Shame on the kenyans who look themselfs down, by thinking what comes out of American mouth is worth surport. The are not heaven or GOD, Please be pround to be kenyan's and stop surpoting American in afoolish way

Submitted by bananahill
Posted September 30, 2009 03:21 PM

Welldone Hon Wetangula,kenya is no colony of anybody,the Ambassador of the U.s.A. is not in kenya to police us but to make money for his country.He should give letters to kenyans who have commited crimes in the U.S not kenyans who hold different opinions on matters related to kenya because it is non of his business,and what is this about kenyans being banned from going to U.S.A every now and then.who cares about going there apart from on goverment business,if and when the need arises.

Submitted by physics
Posted September 30, 2009 12:25 PM

USA has every right to ban WHOMSOEVER from stepping their soil.....live with it. Why even bother taking your bad behaviour and mannerism to other people's land. Stay in Kenya, the rot that you have created. Kenya is right now at the mercy of donors......THAT IS THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER!!!

Submitted by mza
Posted September 30, 2009 10:02 AM

Why do people just talk of the 'aid' Kenya gets from the US as if the US does not need anything from us? Is it a wonder that one of the largest US embassies in Africa is in Nairobi? These guys are clever enough not to grovel when they want our help say in tackling Somalia. For us, we can even kneel when we want their maize!

Submitted by jahazi
Posted September 30, 2009 09:58 AM

Who really advises some of these people in Kenyan Govt? You have neither tact nor appreciation...what's the perverse sense of bravado for? The warlords of impunity, corruption, greed and ethnic bloodbath are surely fighting back...a losing war. Do they take time to gauge the public mood?

Submitted by Sunburn
Posted September 30, 2009 07:32 AM

So, in the US's warped thinking, there are different standards of human rights violations, for Egypt, for Saudi Arabia and for Kenya? What a bunch of dishonest hypocrites! The LSK and their CSO buddies are a pathetic bunch of naive and traitorous scum.

Submitted by gaga2009
Posted September 30, 2009 04:37 AM

I am not sure what watengula specialized in while in law school but his handling of this matter causes me to speculate that his training is not internatinal relations/foreign affairs. it might help to know the laws before making such arguments

Submitted by JoshWanjala
Posted September 30, 2009 04:07 AM

Africa leaders sometimes mislead their masses with false sense of bravado. The letter was probably trashed by a junior staff as it was not worth the paper it was written on.Kibaki never read the mood of the country it was bungling election, then UN and UNHCR extrajudicial report , then many others lately Ringera and now the 15 letters? Who are Mzee's advisors. Some of the 15 persons may end up in hague time to fire them, then invite Ocampo, time to end impunity.

Submitted by detosh
Posted September 30, 2009 01:55 AM

That is a good move for the US to ban these people. It is a lesson to the rest.

Submitted by ronns
Posted September 30, 2009 01:25 AM

The international community (read US) brought us Kofi Annan, they feed our starving people, they give us expensive antiretroviral drugs for free, they pay our health workers, they pay for all kind of research... and their budget revenue is $2.5 trillion while kenya's is $6.6 billion! Summon indeed. Maskini wengine ni wajeuri kweli.

Submitted by jokaseda
Posted September 30, 2009 12:57 AM

Let Kenya know that this is not a battle of the minds.It is serious and those involved must support reforms whether they are guilty of any form of corruption or not.Those who will support Kenya, may be given lenient judgement if they return Kenya assets.But if they dont, then reforms will deal with them appropriately.Those who have ears let hear.

Submitted by mpisha
Posted September 29, 2009 11:52 PM

It just shows the ill advice the head of state gets from those cronies close to him! Wetangula as one of them!!

Submitted by woz
Posted September 29, 2009 10:39 PM

Thank you, the US Government, for doing what we, the emasculated people of Kenya are not able to do: kick our 'leaders' where it hurts. They have no shame. Do not let up. They will only understand that language. They are past masters at ignoring all private pressure.