In the run-up to the 2013 elections, the issue of “foreign influence” dominated the presidential campaigns.
The winning Jubilee ticket of Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto portrayed their cases at the International Criminal Court (ICC) as an attack on Kenya’s sovereignty that had the tacit support of the Opposition.
It did not help matters that foreign diplomats weighed in on the matter. Notably, the then US Assistant Secretary of State Johnnie Carson’s said “choices have consequences”, warning against voting in the Jubilee candidates.
And as the country prepares for presidential rerun election on October 26, the “foreign influence” agenda seems to be gaining ground.
Through their envoys in Nairobi, talked tough, warning their countries will slap sanctions on Jubilee Party operatives, government officials and National Super Alliance (NASA) personalities who will torpedo plans to hold the election as ordered by the Supreme Court when it annulled the presidential election on September 1.
After independence-during the so called cold war, Kenya was a bulwark for the west against the influence by the east and the spread of communism. But from 1991, after the fall of communism, the west hand has been seen many aspects affecting the country politically and economically.
It pushed for the introduction of multi party politics and in many instances intervened when politics threatened to polarise the country along tribal and political ideologies.
The then US ambassador the late Smith Hemspstone and his Germany counterpart Bernd Muntzelberg were among envoys who led the crusade for plural politics, earning them the wrath of the then ruling party Kanu.
Former President Moi even branded Hempstone a nyama choma envoy for his dalliance with local politicians who were pushing for multi party politics.
In 2005, a UK High Commissioner (find) termed the government as gluttons, vomiting on donor shoes for falling to account for billions of shillings his government had earmarked for free primary education.
But despite all that the west has been there for Kenya at the time of need. In 2008, when the country was on the brink of disintegration following a disputed presidential election, the west pushed for an end of violence and formation of a coalition government.
Although, Kenya has embraced China to fund development projects, the west has not let it go because of its importance in the regional politics and the ongoing fight against religious extremism.
The spread of Al-Shabaab and the Islamic State (ISIS) and stability in East and Central Africa, makes the country an important ally of the west especially UK, US and the European Union.
China which pays no attention to human rights violations and the rule of law where it has business interests in the world, is funding a number of infrastructural development projects in the including the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and roads projects.
During retired President Kibaki administration, the country embraced China for no stringent conditionalities in disbursing loans and grants.
“Kenya will remain an important ally and a strategic partner of the west because of the role it plays in stabilising region. It will not allow it to go the dogs as it watches. The envoys are just conveying the messages from their governments,” says Ajwang Agina, a commentator for a Germany public broadcaster Deutsche Welle and Radio France International.
On Monday this week, ambassadors and High Commissioners, from the west said when they met the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) leadership to discuss preparations for the new presidential election that they were deeply concerned by the deterioration in the political atmosphere in the country and the impact this has had on preparations.
Led by Robert Godec, the US ambassador, they said the international community is watching Kenya and every step of its electoral process.
“We are also watching what politicians are saying and doing. Kenyan leaders should publicly reject violence and ensure their supporters do the same. Some Kenyans are stoking community tensions and it must stop,” they said in a joint statement.
They added: “All of us here are from democracies and Kenya is part of our democratic family. This is why Kenya matters so much to us and to our citizens.”
Godec said unspecified actions including travel bans will be slapped on politicians from both the ruling party and NASA who will stand in the way to holding a free, fair and credible election.
Several key personalities in the former President Moi and his successor Kibaki have had their Visas withdrawn for allegedly being linked to graft and human rights abuses.
Among them was a former Internal Security Minister Chris Murungaru who was linked to alleged Anglo Leasing scandal and Moi’s trusted aide Joshua Kulei.
They were banned from setting their feet in UK. Murungaru who has accused former anti corruption czar John Githongo for his predicament has since appealed the decision and it is pending in a local court.
Most influential personalities have properties including businesses, houses and even land in the west. Some have families residing in the Western capitals and children in schools and universities.
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) chairman John Mbadi, says it was wrong for the Western diplomats to lecture Kenyans on how to conduct themselves during elections yet they were the same bunch of foreign diplomats who gave a clean bill to a very flawed process.
“It’s high time they realised we can do this by ourselves. We don’t need any patronising long noses!” he told the Standard on Sunday.
His sentiments are echoed by a one time Australian ambassador Franklin Bett who faults the Western diplomats for placing conditions on Kenyans leaders.
Bett says Kenyan ambassadors to the Western World rarely influence politics in country they are posted to.
“They have been influencing decisions and meddling in the country’s politics since 1992 but we rarely play such roles when posted to their countries for diplomatic missions.They wouldn’t even allow us to comment on their internal issues,” he adds.
The one time cabinet minister in the Moi and Kibaki’s administrations, says foreign diplomats should allow Kenyans to find homegrown solutions to their problems instead of meddling.