US President-elect Donald Trump.
The US Ambassador to Kenya, Meg Whitman, seems to have rubbed Kenyans up the wrong way. Her close working relationship with President William Ruto has engendered hatred for an ambassador who had not been seen in Kenya since the era of US Ambassador Smith Hempstone.
In contrast, the latter was loved by pro-democracy Kenyans but hated by the government of the day for his strong views against one-party rule. Mr Hempstone was known to hobnob with the public and even safely share nyama choma (barbeque meat) with Kenyans in Kariokor Market, in what’s considered dodgy Eastlands, rarely visited by diplomats. Suffice to say, his campaign for democracy in Kenya contributed to the repeal of Section 2A rule that legitimised a single party government and led to multi-party democracy in Kenya.
President Ruto is a beneficiary of that democratic process that was established in the 90s and streamlined by the 2010 Constitution. The election of President Ruto was not without suspicions, as his election, like that of his predecessor President Uhuru Kenyatta, was argued to have been mired by irregularities.
The Supreme Court since ruled in President Ruto’s favour and termed the opposition’s submissions as ‘hot-air.’ Unbeknown to many Kenyans, as a representative of a foreign country to Kenya, Meg Whitman, like all the other ambassadors and high commissioners to the country, must strive to have a good working relationship with the government of the day — democratic or autocratic. That is international diplomacy for you.
Meg Whitman
Kenya’s anger towards Meg Whitman is completely unjustified. Kenyans voted in President Ruto even if some believed 2022 votes did not add up, and not the US citizens or its ambassador. The presidential results not going the way of the opposition does not mean that democracy failed. Democratic process does not have to have meaning only when political fortunes favour us. Having said that, the hate based on presumed blind support of President Ruto’s government by US Ambassador Meg Whitman has since been negated by the opposition’s absorption into the government.
Those angered by others seen to be sympathetic towards the democratic election of President Ruto, must now turn their anger towards the derailment of democracy by the current government than focus their assault on ambassadors and high commissioners only in Kenya doing their diplomatic work. The blending of the government and the opposition is the true enemy to our democracy and not foreign missions. Declining democracy is precisely what Kenyans now need to call out.
Trump’s re-election has been received with aplomb by Kenyans who hold the view that a Republican government in the US will solve all the problems created by the unpopular government of President Ruto. Hence, they cannot wait to see the back of Meg Whitman, who was representing the Democrats’ US government in Kenya. That may be so, however, the power to change a political landscape is in the hands of Kenyan voters and not reliant on a foreign government. Kenyans have repeatedly voted with their hearts than their heads. They are easily influenced by emotions around tribalism, deep pockets and allowed themselves to be intimidated to silence. They have themselves to blame on the sort of poor leaders they have.
Trump may be a libertarian and a pacifist, but he is not free of faults when it comes to women’s rights around abortion and immigration. He became a threat to the US democracy and rule of law when he led what was considered an insurrection by inciting storming of State Capital building in January 2021. Despite these faults, he has remained largely true to his convictions. He spoke his mind on Africa’s underdevelopment through poor governance for instance. He is famously quoted as calling African countries — shithole countries. Something most Africans agree with.
He has been honest on his stand against global war and chose to focus on building America first through a thriving economy. How many African leaders have the conviction to put their people first? Kenya has in the last few months alone focused on derailing the economy, violate human rights through abductions and killings, shrunk civic space and eroded fundamental freedoms such as free speech and rights to peaceful protest.
Trump’s brush with the law is well-documented. Some were factual, while others were political witch-hunt according to him and his supporters. What was clear, however, is the fact that he had his day in court and the US legal system allowed for due process to take place without political influence. Something that Kenyans could only dream of. The rulings that favour the Government in Kenya are coming in thick and fast, even in places where human rights violation is prevalent, and theft of public funds are imminent. The courts in Kenya may refute that they are not politically influenced to rule in favour of the government, but they are fooling no one.
Kenyans may cheer Trump election 2.0 but he is not the messiah they need. It is upon them to save themselves by finding solutions to their declining democratic, justice and civic spaces.
Ms Guyo is a legal researcher, [email protected], @kdiguyo
