By Joab Apollo
Between 2013 and 2017, Uganda’s president Yoweri Museveni was a darling of Kenyan government. So valued was he that he attended every public holiday and public functions presided over by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
This strong bond was due to his spirited onslaught on the International Criminals Court (ICC) which had accused President Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto of crimes against humanity over the 2007 post election pogrom. The cases later collapsed due to what then ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said was “state interference”
Fast forward to 2021 and what is witnessed in the East African region is the proverbial “no permanent friends.” President Museveni, who recently came under fire internationally for his regime’s brutal crackdown on opposition supporters during Uganda’s presidential election, which his main challenger, Bobi Wine, accused him of rigging, is now treated as a plague by the Kenyan government, thanks to his association with embattled Kenyan Deputy President William Ruto, President Kenyatta’s ally-turned enemy.
On Monday, Dr. Ruto was blocked from traveling to Uganda by Kenya’s immigration officials, who directed him to seek clearance from President Kenyatta, much to his humiliation. The incident, which has been viewed as a political statement to the deputy president that he no longer enjoys state power, comes against the backdrop of his frequent visits to the neighbouring Uganda, a development which has been interpreted by Kenyan government operatives as a plot to cause political instability in the region.
While his political allies were scolding the powerful Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi, he could only tweet, “Isorait, tumwachie mungu” (It’s alright, let’s leave it to God)
His spokesman David Mugonyi said that, “He was asked to seek clearance from the Head of Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet. We are surprised. This has never happened in nine years.”
The relationship between President Kenyatta has been frosty ever since Kenyatta signed a political ceasefire with opposition leader Raila Odinga. While Ruto has interpreted the historic handshake as a scheme to propel the veteran Odinga, a former Kenyan Prime Minister, to presidency at his expense, President Museveni is said to be uneasy with the possibility of Odinga’s ascendancy to power due to his unwavering human rights and democracy crusade.
The two East African countries are now faced with diplomatic tension akin to the one witnessed when Ugandan policemen harrassed Kenyan fishermen in Migingo Island on Lake Victoria. Renowned Kenyan born New York University based Law Scholar Professor Makau Mutua has warned against allowing wanton greed for power by the Kenyan political elite to slide the country into anarchy.
“Except for a few dual citizens, Kenyans have only one country they call home. Let those who seek power not collapse it in their greed to capture power.” He tweeted.
Ruto’s allies have warned the state against meting out ill-treatment on him.
“I ask Kenyans to be patient because liberation is coming soon.” Said Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi.
