On August 30, 2006, Alfred Mutua, speaking on behalf of the Kenyan Government, dismissed Barack Obama’s criticism of Kenya during his visit as a US Senator from Illinois.
At the time, Mutua was serving as Government Spokesman under President Mwai Kibaki’s administration.
Obama had delivered a speech at the University of Nairobi on August 28, 2006, where he criticized corruption and ethnic divisions in Kenya.
In response, Mutua accused him of being “poorly informed” and dismissed him as a “junior senator from Illinois” interfering in Kenya’s internal affairs.
Alfred Mutua Labels Obama a Junior Senator
Mutua added that the Kenyan government had forgiven Obama because it was his first term in the Senate and he was yet to “mature in understanding foreign policy issues”. He argued that Obama’s criticism of President Kibaki’s administration was unwarranted and lacked a factual basis.
“Senator Obama made extremely disturbing statements on issues where it is clear he was very poorly informed, and on which he chose to lecture the government and the people on how they should manage their country,” Mutua said.
He further accused Obama of ignoring Kibaki’s accomplishments in fighting corruption and boosting economic growth from near zero to six percent in just three years.
“This cannot be achieved in a country that Senator Obama claims is in the midst of a corruption crisis,” he added.
The government spokesman also suggested that Obama was being used as a puppet to promote opposition politics, calling it shocking given that “he is supposed to be an intelligent man.” Mutua also dismissed suggestions that dangerous tribal divisions were on the rise.
His response came after Obama criticized Kibaki’s government for failing to adequately tackle corruption.
Obama Criticizes Kenyan Government for Failing to Tackle Corruption
According to Obama, Kenya lacked the kind of transparent, accountable governance that fosters real development.
He added that corruption continued to undermine the lives of ordinary Kenyans.
“Like many nations across this continent, Kenya is failing in its ability to create a government that is transparent and accountable—one that serves its people and is free from corruption. But while corruption is a problem we all share, here in Kenya it is a crisis—a crisis that is robbing honest people of the opportunities they have fought for and the opportunities they deserve,” Obama stated.
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He also pointed to tribalism in politics as another major obstacle.
“Ethnic-based tribal politics has to stop. It is rooted in the bankrupt idea that the goal of politics or business is to funnel as much of the pie as possible to one’s family, tribe, or circle, with little regard for the public good. It stifles innovation and fractures the fabric of society. Instead of unifying the country to solve problems, it divides neighbor from neighbor,” Obama warned.
Obama further stated that only an accountable, transparent government could break the cycle of tribalism.
“When people are judged by merit, not connections, then the best and brightest can lead the country,” the Illinois Senator at the time added.
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