By Aggrey Mutambo
Sunday Nation
August 5 2012
All hotel guests ordered not to leave, while new guests were thoroughly vetted by the FBI
At the Supreme Court, the security agents at the gate first refused to allow journalists in. Most of the reporters there were not on the list provided and were therefore strangers, probably trespassers.
After 30 minutes, a burly man appeared with a new instruction: “Let them stand outside for more security checks.”
This took another 30 minutes before reporters were herded into a room on the second floor of the Supreme Court.
Later, another man appeared, ostensibly to have a chat with reporters and make them feel at home “as security arrangements for you guys are finalised.”
It was 30 more minutes before journalists were allowed downstairs where President Obama’s top diplomat was coming through.
Meanwhile, Kenyan security officers had been “assigned” to stand guard around the hedges of the Supreme Court Chambers. Trying to breach that arrangement would have been suicidal.
Moments later, the Secretary of State arrived with her convoy. Her security took over from the Kenyan officers who had been manning the area; their role was now to guard the American security details and their numerous sniffer dogs.
Even Foreign Affairs minister Sam Ongeri was not spared. He had accompanied Mrs Clinton from State House to the Supreme Court, and he might have expected to be freely allowed to attend the discussions with Chief Justice Mutunga.
He was wrong. He belonged to the Executive arm of government, not the Judiciary.
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Asked why he was not in the session, he said: “You know I don’t belong here.” He then went to sit in his car as he couldn’t leave the compound until Mrs Clinton left.
After 45 minutes, she emerged, and took only 45 seconds to say they discussed the forthcoming elections.
She then left for the PM’s office on Harambee Avenue.At the Supreme Court, the security agents at the gate first refused to allow journalists in. Most of the reporters there were not on the list provided and were therefore strangers, probably trespassers.
After 30 minutes, a burly man appeared with a new instruction: “Let them stand outside for more security checks.”
This took another 30 minutes before reporters were herded into a room on the second floor of the Supreme Court.
Later, another man appeared, ostensibly to have a chat with reporters and make them feel at home “as security arrangements for you guys are finalised.”
It was 30 more minutes before journalists were allowed downstairs where President Obama’s top diplomat was coming through.
Meanwhile, Kenyan security officers had been “assigned” to stand guard around the hedges of the Supreme Court Chambers. Trying to breach that arrangement would have been suicidal.
Moments later, the Secretary of State arrived with her convoy. Her security took over from the Kenyan officers who had been manning the area; their role was now to guard the American security details and their numerous sniffer dogs.
Even Foreign Affairs minister Sam Ongeri was not spared. He had accompanied Mrs Clinton from State House to the Supreme Court, and he might have expected to be freely allowed to attend the discussions with Chief Justice Mutunga.
He was wrong. He belonged to the Executive arm of government, not the Judiciary.
Share This Story
Asked why he was not in the session, he said: “You know I don’t belong here.” He then went to sit in his car as he couldn’t leave the compound until Mrs Clinton left.
After 45 minutes, she emerged, and took only 45 seconds to say they discussed the forthcoming elections.
She then left for the PM’s office on Harambee Avenue.
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