A section of Kenyans in the US
has reacted angrily to media reports that acting Kenya’s ambassador to the US
boycotted a premium Kenyan event in Boston, Massachusetts, upon learning that
former Prime Minister
Raila Odinga was in attendance.
The Sunday Nation reported that
Ms Jean Kamau, who was expected at the event dubbed “Diner with the Champions”
accompanied by visiting Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Culture and Arts, Hassan
Wario, reportedly stayed away because of the presence of the ODM leader.
Mr Odinga had joined the Kenyans
in honour of compatriots who were participating in the prestigious Boston
Marathon.
And soon after the story was
published, many Kenyans took to the social media to vilify the envoy saying she
not only embarrassed the Cord leader but the athletes as well. Others termed
the action “uncalled for, archaic and disrespectful.”
Boston based Kennedy Wambo said
by staying away; Ms Kamau had set a bad precedent. “As a civil servant, she
should know better than snub an event because of petty politics,” he said via
twitter.
“These officials seem to be still
smarting from the Nyayo era mentality when you either were of certain political
inclination (sic) or no one had time for you,” said Martin Magesha of Tampa,
Florida.
Some used other online fora to
express their disappointment. "The ambassador owes Kenyans an apology”, a
reader who goes by pseudo name ‘Suluhisho’ said in a posting on Mwakilishi.com,
a Diaspora online publication.
“Snubbing the event is despicable
and those supporting the behaviour should know it is counterproductive and does
not advance the cause of national reconciliation and healing at all,” said John
Mwangi in a Facebook posting.
But Arizona based John Kamau felt
that the barbs thrown at the envoy are misdirected. “Kenyans should blame Mr
Odinga’s supporters for rushing to the media to create the impression that
their party leader was under siege,” he told the Nation by phone. “They are
trying to create a storm in a tea cup. The ambassador stayed away to avoid
unnecessary theatrics,” he added.
Mr Osaak Olumullah from Ohio
wondered whether those castigating the envoy had all the facts on what
transpired. “Did Mr. Odinga's office put the Embassy in the know about what was
going to transpire? Was the politician gracing the event as a private citizen?”
he wondered
Efforts to reach Ms Kamau for
comment were fruitless as an embassy staff told the Nation that she was on
leave and out of the country.
Two weeks ago, Mr Odinga
expressed concern that the Charge de Affairs had not accorded him the courtesy
he deserves. “Unlike my colleague from Tanzania who has been moving around with
an official from the Tanzanian Embassy in Washington, the Kenyan Mission has
largely ignored me,” he told an NTV reporter in Atlanta during an interview.
During the Boston Marathon which
was held a day after the Dinner, Kenya’s Rita Jeptoo won the women’s race while
Wilson Chebet and Frankline Chepkwony were second and third respectively in the
men’s race won by American Meb Keflezighi.
The “Dinner with Champions” is
the brain child of former Kenya’s ambassador to the US , Elkanah Odembo, who
styled himself as a true champion and supporter of Kenya’s international
sportsmen and women. It has become one of the biggest events among Kenyans
living in the US whilst acting as a morale booster to the runners.
The latest development is likely
to rekindle debate on the former Prime Minister’s 3-month US tour which has
raised eyebrows in some quarters, becoming a subject for debate both in the
media and the Kenyan parliament.
Chapisha Maoni