Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Kenya-US relations a cycle of friendship
Two years ago, it would have been difficult to imagine the scenes that played out recently in this country.
Former
American President Bill Clinton was in town with his daughter, visiting
with local communities. The two were soon followed by American
Secretary of State John Kerry.
Relations between Kenya
and the West, and particularly the United States of America, have had a
strong foundation from the days of the famous airlift.
From
the relative trickle of the 1960s, thousands of young Kenyans travel to
the United States every year, seeking an education. Justice Thurgood
Marshall, that distinguished American legal mind, visited Kenya and was
one of the framers of the Constitution under which this country won
independence.
The independence Constitution survived a
near half-century because it captured the aspirations of Kenyans:
equality under law, freedom of speech, the right to private property,
and tolerance of different faiths.
We share these
values with the Americans and where it mattered, like in the Horn of
Africa, Kenyans and Americans have stood together to defend these
values.
Trade between Kenya and the US has been strong
over the years and it can only grow. The opportunities are numerous: in
energy, infrastructure, agriculture (especially agro-processing),
tourism, services, retail, manufacturing, and IT.
TIME IS RIPE
Kenya has maintained political stability, economic steadiness, and fiscal discipline in the past few years.
The
US has recognised that the time is ripe for a new partnership with
Africa. The US Africa leadership summit, during which President Uhuru
Kenyatta met President Barack Obama and former presidents George W Bush
and Bill Clinton, was an expression of this recognition and the
revitalised relationship.
So, has Kenya’s foreign
policy shifted its focus from West to East? I see Kenya’s position as
remaining as it has always been: seeking a balanced engagement with
traditional friends while at the same time taking advantage of new
opportunities.
And so our leadership and that of
America are exploring old paths. One of the issues that President
Kenyatta and Mr Kerry discussed was the ease of doing business in
Kenya.
Kenya has been at the forefront of integration
in East Africa, clearly understanding that it is the region’s path to
shared prosperity. It has been an ardent supporter of opening up
borders, has strongly supported a customs union and encouraged the drive
towards a political federation.
America would do well
to partner with us, particularly in the area of securing the homeland,
thus the importance of the discussions between Mr Kerry and President
Kenyatta on security training, intelligence sharing, and regional peace
initiatives.
In choosing these themes, Kenya and
America are revitalising their relationship. That strengthening of
relations between Kenya and the US, as well as between the US and the
region, will be taken a notch higher when President Obama visits Kenya
in July, completing a circle that began many years ago. Partnerships
such as these guarantee stability, bring about prosperity, bolster
values, and protect and preserve security.
Prof Obonyo is the dean, School of Communications, Language and Performing Arts at Daystar University. @Obonyolevi
http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/Opinion/-Kenya-US-relations-a-cycle-of-friendship/-/440808/2730392/-/rkidol/-/index.html
No comments:
Post a Comment