What Kenyans must read in Obama snub

US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle are currently on a tour of Africa. Photo/AFP 

By DAVID MUGUN

In Summary

• This is the time the reality of the saying that whereas “blood is thicker than water, business has no friendship” is dawning on the majority of Kenyans.
• Kenya is East Africa’s biggest economy by a wide range that will take years for any of its neighbours to narrow down and beat. This is the reason anyone coming to East Africa for business often picks Nairobi as their launch pad.

Barack Obama, the president of the world’s only superpower the United States of America, has been touring Africa since last week, but has skipped his fatherland Kenya.

This is the time the reality of the saying that whereas “blood is thicker than water, business has no friendship” is dawning on the majority of Kenyans.

It is OK to die for the USA as was the case in 1998 when terrorists bombed the its embassy in Nairobi and caused more Kenyan deaths than American injuries. But America will not die for Kenya and if they do, it is because they want something in return.

Being friendly, is not a euphemism for a qualified friend. They are not our enemies either.

Just a few days ago at lunch, I overheard a woman in the next table complain aloud to what I believe was a man on the other end of the phone line. “You claim that you like me, yet you treat me like a “clandee!”

She went on: “If you really love me, then you must show it in public.” Enough said.

“Clandee” is derived from the word clandestine and in this instance it is unmistakably used to describe a mate in an affair that is meant to remain below the radar screens of official spouses. Stealth mode it is.

That conversation led me into asking whether Kenya, in the diplomatic circles, is America’s ‘‘clandee.’’ A resounding yes was my answer.

Innocence of the supposed brotherly bondage blinds us to the stark reality. It is business stupid! No more, no less.

Kenya is East Africa’s biggest economy by a wide range that will take years for any of its neighbours to narrow down and beat. This is the reason anyone coming to East Africa for business often picks Nairobi as their launch pad.

In the past three months that followed the peaceful March election, the Kenyan shilling has strengthened against all its East African neighbours. The position has remained so to date.

Kenya’s recent muscle power in stabilising Somalia has not been overlooked. The British have acknowledged it and will be in Kenya soon for the next conference on Somalia, which London opted to be held in Nairobi.

Interestingly, the United Kingdom is a signatory to the International Criminal Court, but has agreed to work with Kenya on areas of mutual interest.

The United States is not a member or signatory to the ICC statutes, but has chosen to use it as the excuse for Obama’s snubbing of Kenya. The truth is nowhere near the ICC. America wants resources just as China wants them from Africa, raw and cheap!

The British, have a head start on Kenya’s oil through Tullow Oil. For America, it was a foregone conclusion, that after years of searching without success, oil could only be found in Tanzania and Uganda.