Outgoing US ambassador Michael Ranneberger has no regrets whatsoever on reports he sent to Washington which were leaked recently. Rannerberger, although not willing to discuss the contents of the reports revealed by the Wikileaks site, says he is satisfied with the content of his cables to Washington.
He said that majority of Kenyans are positive about his assessment of the country’s top leadership judging by the responses he gas received. “I do not regret at all! If anything my countrywide tours have revealed that Kenyans are very positive about the report,” he said. “I do not want to duel on any of the content but Kenyans are saying ‘thank God someone knows what is happening’.”
Some of the controversial cables detailed conversations between him and Kalonzo Musyoka in 2006 in which the Vice-President said President Kibaki was sleeping on the job, probably because of medication he was receiving at that time. Ranneberger in his comment at that time described Kalonzo as an opportunist.
Ranneberger wrote to Washington that Lands Minister James Orengo had described Prime Minister Raila Odinga as a poor manager who did not follow up on issues. The ambassador argues that sending reports to Washington is part of his duty and most of the reports are accurate.
Ranneberger says the accuracy of his reports has been recognised by the US government and his mission was voted the best in reporting.”In fact my mission became top globally in accurate reports two years ago. That shows the diligence of our reporting,” Ranneberger said in an interview with the Star at the weekend.
Ranneberger, who is leaving Kenya in two weeks time, said he knows he is not popular among the political class. His involvement directly with the youth movement has put him on a collision course with politicians and at one time provoked the wrath of both President Kibaki and PM Raila Odinga.
In their speeches during the Jamhuri Day celebrations in 2010, the two leaders launched a scathing attack on the envoy with Raila likening him to a colonial governor.”We do not want a visitor who acts as if he is a governor; the last governor left Kenya in 1964,” the PM said last year.
On his part without mentioning the ambassador’s name, President Kibaki said some foreign missions were financing the youth to cause instability.”Mtu anafikiri analeta pesa chache kutolea vijana ndio wataharibu kwao? Hiyo ni ndoto. Haitawezekana,” Kibaki said. (“Someone thinks he can use a little money to corrupt our youth and destabilise our country? That’s a pipe dream. It won’t happen).
But on Saturday, Ranneberger maintained that the US will continue funding the youth movement as part of its strategy to empower them as agents of change.”I know they are a scared lot. They fear that an empowered youth is not easy to be manipulated.”
He said empowering the youth has been sanctioned by President Obama and even his (Ranneberger’s) successor will continue with the same.”These are efforts that have been sanctioned by the highest office in my country; that of President Obama.”
The US envoy warned that Kenya risks plunging back into the “unfortunate events of 2007/08″, the post-election violence, saying empowering the youth directly is part of the US strategy to help Kenya avert the crisis.
He however said this can be achieved through a partnership with the people who must take charge of the country.”The people have to signal to politicians that they need change to avoid the events of 2007/08 by taking charge of the reform process. This is why the US government wants to empower the people. ” “The people of Kenya themselves need to speak up. I am convinced that Kenyans want to see change as was witnessed when a vast majority voted overwhelmingly for the new constitution.”
The envoy, who has completed his five-year tour of duty, challenged the media to take a lead in championing political and social change. Ranneberger maintained that impunity, negative ethnicity and corruption are the cancers that continue to thrive in the country in spite of the new constitution.
He said the US government and the international community were increasingly being frustrated by lack of political will to fight the vices.”I am disappointed that impunity still continues to thrive. No minister, assistant minister or PS has been jailed for corruption. No high-profile person has been convicted for hate speech.”
Ranneberger denied allegations that he has been sidelining the PNU wing of the grand government, saying the US remains neutral to both coalition partners.”I enjoy cordial relations with both President Kibaki and Prime Minister Odinga. I am not pro-Odinga or pro-kibaki. Neither am I pro-ODM nor pro-PNU,” he said. The envoy will be releasing a farewell message to Kenyans this week outlining the highlights of his tour of duty.
Source: www.nairobistar.com
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