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Envoy Speaks - Views From Washington

Wednesday, 24 February 2010 00:00
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Washington considers Kenya a prime ally

PETER N.R.O. OGEGO, Kenya’s Ambassador to the United States, Mexico and Colombia, was interviewed for Diplomat East Africa by JOHN MULAA  in Washington DC. The following are excerpts from the interview

Ambassador Peter N.R.O. Ogego, 52,  Kenya’s envoy to the United States, is a dapper fellow with a penchant for specificity of language. He chooses his words carefully, and yet his delivery is smooth, bespeaking a certain assurance, or maybe it is simply a matter of practiced ease. Either way, spending an hour with Ogego talking about many subjects that come to mind is clearly worth it. He does not parse; he calls it as it is, albeit in a soothing manner. Ogego is a man who is comfortable in his skin. Ogego is no diplomatic novice. He took over the Washington mission after a stint in Ottawa, Canada. It was by all accounts a tumultuous time. Then the Ambassador to the US had, shall we say, issues, that at the very least paralysed the mission.

Ogego’s takeover coincided with the then Illinois Senator Barack Obama’s visit to Nairobi, where he gave a candid assessment of the political situation in Kenya, offering advice that clearly rubbed up the powers that be the wrong way. Kenya Government spokespersons, official and unofficial, poured cold water on the assessment and described it as wildly off the mark. Ogego chimed in on behalf of the Kenyan Government more or less hewing to the official line. Fast-forward three years later. The supposed wet-behind the- ears Senator with Kenyan ancestral roots is sitting comfortably in the Oval Office. He personally does not need to hector Kenya on this or the other. Obama has more than enough underlings to do this on his behalf. However, the message has not changed. What has changed is the Kenya Government’s reaction, given the reality it faces. We began our conservation by talking about the role of Kenya’s mission in the US.

Ogego: Foreign missions are the official institutions through which bilateral diplomacy is conducted. Our mission in the US is the official channel through which we conduct bilateral relations. Washington considers Kenya a prime ally plomacy taking place outside the confines of the embassy, but, finally, all these efforts are channelled through the embassy. Take, for example, communication between the White House and State House, Nairobi. The messages from State House were communicated in the traditional manner: State House, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Kenyan Embassy in Washington DC, the State Department, and then the White House. We use our mission here to drive our foreign policy, which in our case means continuing to highlight our shared values with the US, values based on democracy, freedom, and economic development. Kenya-US relations date back to the days before Independence, and over time they have deepened. Occasionally, we have some rough patches, but they are smoothed, eventually.

Kenya-US relations with  Obama at the helm Two things define the current Kenya-US relations. Kenyans are looking at the US with renewed curiosity and interest because President Obama has Kenyan ancestral roots. This has spurred much interest, inquisitiveness and expectations from Kenyans. Secondly, many Kenyans have been to the United States as students, professionals, and business visitors, etc. Lately there has been a surge of Kenyan Green Card holders. In addition, there are many Kenyans who are US citizens. I estimate there are close to a million Kenyans in the US registered and undocumented. This translates into a lot of interest by Kenyans back home that have relatives living here. There is a flurry of activity between Kenya and the US. The US has always considered Kenya a prime regional ally for obvious reasons. Geopolitics is one of them, particularly given the situation in the Horn of Africa. Furthermore, Kenya is major hub of internal relief operations; it is also a regional hub for aviation, banking, not to forget that it is the only Third World country hosting the headquarters of United Nations agencies UNEP and Habitat. This makes Kenya very important to the US.

Is Obama hard on Kenya?

This is a little tricky. I believe most Kenyans feel the same way Obama feels: that the pace of reforms has not been as quick as anticipated. I am a reformist. Between 2003 and 2007, Kenya made remarkable progress, particularly in terms of institutional rehabilitation. Prior to 2002 major public institutions for governance had been eroded. So the first task of the post-Moi era was to revamp those institutions. The country was on a recovery path for most of the first phase of the post-Moi era. Then the 2007 election came with its challenges. Now we have a coalition government. It was extremely necessary to stop the violence and to restore order in order to get the country focused again. I think what Washington is trying to do is to nudge Kenya to be focused on reform because the country is important to the US.

Is the Obama Administration’s treatment of Kenya different from previous administrations?

I think it is a question of expectations. Washington’s expectations of Kenya are much higher than for the rest of Africa. Kenya is held to higher standards than it is able to meet. I think that is where the problem lies. Many Americans feel that Kenya deserves better institutions than it has. Of course, they understand that the institutions were eroded over a period and it will take some time to get them back on track. Americans know that Kenya has the human resources capacity to revamp and properly manage its institutions. They feel that what is lacking is the political will to get it done within a reasonable period. They are concerned that the next elections are not too far away and unless major institutional reforms are undertaken, there could be a repeat of what happened in 2007. I have spoken to President Obama on several occasions, starting when he was a senator. I have met him at official functions. I recall after his visit to Ghana I met him at an official  reception at the White House and we chatted briefly. I told him that his message had been heard clearly. Obama is concerned about Kenya. He feels very strongly that the country should do better than it is doing. No doubt, the US intends to be a good partner.

Is it to Kenya’s advantage to be held to a higher standard?

I think the issue here is the style of delivery of the message. Some of these concerns could be raised through quieter channels as has happened recently. We have had a series of discussions with the  White House and the State Department. I have hosted a series of Kenyan MPs and Cabinet Ministers who have also held talks with US Government officials. Everybody is concerned and agreed that reforms in Kenya are necessary. The style of delivery of that message irks some Kenyans, but there is no  question that the message from the US Government has been consistent. Kenyan officials on visits to the US are hearing the same message and they have come away convinced that the US means well for Kenya. The US view of Kenya is haunted by the spectre of violence, and that concern is genuine.

How does the Kenya Mission in the US market Kenya?

Americans in and around Washington are very conversant with Kenya. Marketing Kenya outside Washington is the focus of our efforts. The mission is working closely with the Ministry of Tourism, which has retained a marketing agency in Minnesota, to market Kenya to Americans as a tourism destination. It has worked. The US has become the second biggest source tourist market for Kenya, surpassing Germany. We also market Kenya as a business destination and we work collaboratively with organisations such  as the Corporate Council on Africa and other business entities to sell Kenya as an investment destination. I have travelled across the length and breadth of the US speaking to business chambers about investing in Kenya. Now that the fibre-optic cable is operational, we should expect more American investors, particularly in IT and business outsourcing services.

Your impressions of Kenyans in the US...

Overall, life in the US is very tough, but it has always been, not just for Kenyans or Africans but even for native-born Americans as well. The laws are complex, application  strict and systems are equally complex. You must first understand the system to navigate it properly. What makes me happy is America is a country of immigrants. Anybody working hard and living by the rules can make it here. The story of President Obama is an inspiration to millions of immigrants.

Life of an ambassador in Washington DC...

This is a fast-paced place. Washington DC is a very intricate town. It is home to highly experienced and sophisticated people. There is a saying that if you do not make your impact within three months of your arrival here, you probably never will. There are thousands of lobbyists in this town, and there are many lawyers, think tanks, and corporate bodies. Congress is located here as are federal agencies such as the Department of Agriculture, the State Department, etc. Washington is the headquarters of the Bretton Woods institutions, the World Bank and IMF. The mission has to keep contacts with many of these institutions. Besides, the ambassador must also participate in colleagues’ diplomatic activities, especially the African group of ambassadors. I am the current chair of the subcommittee on trade and economic development. You really have to balance your life lest your family falls by the wayside.

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