WILL EU THREATS ON KENYA WORK

The plenary session of EU has threatened to freeze Aid to the East African nation subject Kenyan stringent stand on the election results which are now widely believed to have been doctored courtesy ECK. The counter measure is not any nearer to make the Government cave in and conduct a recount of the votes or even devise a power sharing deal with the opposition.
This week saw a dramatic swearing in ceremony unseen before in this country’s history, the opposition dominated parliament took several hours of grueling arguments characterized by violation of protocol from the election of a speaker to addressing of the president. Much of the public gallery filled with police fearing an outpouring of anger from the parties.
Whoever thought Kenya’s donor wars are just beginning has a short memory, the arm flexing with donors dates back in moi’s time, when the Donors adjusted their funds to a trickle ultimately phasing it out but the Government stood strong during that time. The secret weapon is derived from the Robust Kenyan economy which dominates the region. Its export capabilities like having number one spot in export of cut flowers the world over, to tourist arrivals grossing over $ 900 million US pa, not to mention remittances from Kenyans abroad. The equation can only be balanced by threatening a ban a on say exports to EU which can make the Government Bureaucrats rethink their positions. Watching the Kenya ambassador answering to a BBC new on questions fronted to him by the news anchor, it was grossly clear how the ambassador’s arrogance call it of the regime back home is so rife. About being named a pariah state by the west the Diplomat sounded as though he was representing a super power nation showing the shallowness of the subject he was discussing. It’s been a bitter lesson for dictators like Sadaam and family who stand up to challenge the west in such a manner or else they unleash their wrath.
What the west may not do however is to slap such a trade blockade of Kenya as many cooperate individuals are Anglo American.
The reality of things is that no body including the east African sitting presidents rebuking the Kibaki dynasty to allow fully fledged democracy may be its not in their best interest.
Today its Kibaki and tomorrow could next door, never mind