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Kenya Constitution: Does US President Barack Obama Now Want to be a Kenyan?
It is obvious to everyone that US President Barack Obama is, at heart, more of a Kenyan than an American. His involvement in the politics of changing the country’s constitution is not that of a friendly observer. He is an active part of the process.
His passion for the country and its people is well known all over the world – he makes a point of talking fondly about it whenever the opportunity arises. He never tires of reminding himself, and the rest of the world, that when he was born, Kenya was ranked closer to the developed world. Now it is regrettably far behind among the heap of the least developed countries.
It isn’t surprising that he, like everyone else with Kenyan blood, would feel appalled. And if he can, it is in order that he should try, like every one of us, to improve the situation (witness my humble efforts to promote Kenya as good place in which to live and set up business).
African Traditions
African traditions allow Mr. Obama to fully participate in the affairs of Kenya. With a Kenyan father, he is a natural Kenyan. His children will be Kenyan. And the children of his children will be Kenyan and so on ad infinitum. No one can change that because, as the Akamba of Kenya say, “You can not wash away blood relationship with water.”
Despite all this, Obama’s involvement in Kenyans affairs is shocking. Only a few short years ago, we joined hands to help him prove to the world – and the US in particular – that he was a US citizen. It is upon that proof that he was elected the US President. It would be assumed that once he became the President of US, he would behave as such and not a Kenyan who lives in the US.
Obama Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop
Apparently, however, this is just what Mr. Obama won’t do. His controversial assistance to the “Yes” team in the campaigns for the referendum on the proposed constitution is a clear statement of his determination to be – and to remain – involved.
He has funded many organizations and individuals to campaign for the “Yes” team led by President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister, Raila Odinga. And his ambassador to Kenya, Mr. Michael Ranneberger, has removed his shirt and entered the campaign ring in earnest. He tours the rural areas –like all local politicians – receiving those who defect from the” No” campaign team to join the ” Yes” team, criticizing everyone who is for “No” and reportedly rewarding the defectors with a cash handout of Shs 200,000 (about $ 2,858) each. Complaints in Kenya and the US against both Obama and his ambassador do not deflect him.
Mr. Ranneberger tells Kenyans that he is acting on the instructions of Mr. Obama “who is a son of this country.” If the “Yes” team wins – which means the proposed constitution will be implemented, even though many Kenyans, including those in the “Yes” team have expressed dissatisfaction with it – Mr. Ranneberger says, there will be increased American investments and financial assistance, the economy will grow, there will be more jobs and everyone will be happy.
These are fair sentiments coming from a son of Kenya. But can’t Mr. Obama do what is best for Kenya for the love of his fatherland without blackmailing the rest of us, Kenyans? If he believes the proposed constitution is good – which I and many Kenyans living in the country don’t – let him take a vote and vote “Yes” on August 4.
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