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Is Obama Snubbing Kenya on Africa trip?
President Barack Obama’s choice of Ghana for his first visit to sub-Saharan Africa since taking office has stirred debate in his father’s homeland Kenya.
Some Kenyans believe Obama ought to have come “home” first. Others, especially among critics of President Mwai Kibaki’s government, say he has deliberately shunned the country to show U.S. disapproval of rampant corruption and nepotism in political circles here.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who comes from the Luo ethnic group like Obama’s father, said it was wrong to read too much into Obama’s itinerary, given that neither was he visiting other influential nations in the region like South Africa and Nigeria.
“Ghana is symbolic. It was the first African country to gain independence from Britain in 1957. Ghana is very advanced in its transition to democratic form of governance. So it is perfectly logical,” he told Reuters.
“If Obama were to come to Kenya as the first country in Africa, it would send some very wrong signals that he is coming here merely because of some organic relationship that he has with this country. So in fact it is good.”
Obama has been to Kenya several times, most recently as a senator in mid-2006. In a speech then, he took a strong line against corruption, which has plagued East Africa’s largest economy for decades. “If the people cannot trust their government to do the job for which it exists – to protect them and promote their common welfare – then all else is lost. That is why the struggle of corruption is one of the great struggles of our time,” he said.
That speech drew a sharp response from the government. Spokesman Alfred Mutua called Obama a young man who was “very poorly informed” and chided him for “lecturing” Kenyans. When Obama took power, however, the Kibaki government was so happy it announced a national holiday in his honour. The U.S. leader is wildly popular among all sectors of Kenyan society.
Clinton did not visit Gabon, though it is on the cusp of the most important election of it\’s historyGoverned by a doggedly autocratic ruler for over four decades, theCentral West African country of Gabon has finally been given a fragileand fleeting opportunity for democratic leadership by the death ofOmar Bongo, 72. However despite international investigations thatturned up evidence of a $200 million plus personal family fortune clearingpointing to gross corruption and substantial embezzlement of thecountry\’s significant oil revenues and questionable foreign investments, the dynastic political manoeuvring of a Bongo into power remains a distinct possibility.Bongo\’s son, Ali-Ben Bongo, is currently poised to assume thePresidential position as the electoral candidate for the powerfulruling party, PDG. Long known for his ability to silence critics andwoo political rivals into the fold, Bongo\’s legacy includes governmentcontrol of all telecoms and media virtually guaranteeing thatthe opposition get no air time or platform. Regardless of thesedifficulties, 8 candidates are participating in the August 30th elections at a moment in history where Gabon desperately needs transparent, independent and regulatedgovernment.Though rich oil and mineral reserves combined with a smallpopulation mean that Gabon is one of the richest nations inSub-Saharan Africa, with a per capita income 4 times the average and aGDP of over $20billion, most of the country languishes in poverty.Away from from the cool air conditioned government buildings and theopulent presidential palaces, at least 30% of the populationsurvive on less than $1 a day and living without food, water,electricity and basic sanitation.One independent nominee looking toalleviate the crippling poverty and harsh life of the Gabonese peopleis Bruno Ben Moubamba. Born the year Omar Bongo first came to power in1967, Moubamba has a powerful vision of a post-Bongo Gabon which he isworking hard to communicate across an information-restricted Gabon byharnessing the power of new technology http://moubamba.com/. Hopefulthat the democratic process will result in a more passionate,inclusive and citizen-centric government, Moubamba is determined todevelop and diversify Gabon\’s economy so that one day it is thepeople, not simply the leaders of this beautiful country, thatbenefit.