Uhuru Kenyattas embarrassment. By Chris Maina By now, pundits have concluded that Foreign Secretary Amina Mohammed is a sanctimonious diplomatic failure. While being appointed six months ago as foreign secretary, Amina said she would ‘wait for the president’s instructions’ in her ‘unique’ position. From last month’s AU meeting where she failed to convince African countries to pullout of the ICC altogether, Amina continued her dismal performance last week where her bloated entourage to the United Nations Security Council again failed to push Uhuru’s agenda beyond Togo, Rwanda, Morocco, Azerbaijan and China. Of the 15 members of the Security Council, Amina’s diplomatic mettle only managed to convince the countries we have listed above. Joined by Kenya’s permanent representative to the United Nations Macharia Kamau, the two badly failed to push Kenya’s case beyond informal sessions by members of the security body. In the end, even Russia, a country which Kenyans have been made to believe support the Jubilee Agenda fully, wobbled in their support, joining Pakistan to remain non-committal. Veto welding US, the UK and Franc categorically declined the request. Other countries that rejected Ambassador Amina’s advances included Argentina, Australia, Guatemala, Luxembourg and South Korea. Acording to sources versed in UN diplomacy, Kenya’s problem is compounded in two major issues: the section of the Rome Statute Amina and company are relying on as well as the face of Kenya’s diplomacy. Amina wants Uhuru’s case deferral based on Article 16 of the Rome Statute which reads, “No investigation or prosecution may be commenced or proceeded with under this Statute for a period of 12 months after the Security Council, in a resolution adopted under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, has requested the Court to that effect; that request may be renewed by the Council under the same conditions.” The reason for deferral is Westgate terror attack! Imagine? So Uhuru needs 12 months to solve the ‘threat of terrorism’ in Kenya before he attends his trial. Imagine? And Amb. Amina wants the trial whole world to believe that Nairobi is so unsafe tha without the president, the whole security service will be taken over by terrorists. . .or something to that effect! The other countries reaction to this assertion has been concise: ‘Madam Amina, your arguments are not compelling enough!’ Guatemala’s minister said it was “difficult to justify a deferral”, Luxembourg’s minister shot painfully, noting that Article 16 could not apply since “there is no threat to peace and security in Kenya”. The South Korean minister said the deferral clause should be invoked “only in exceptional circumstances”. Argentina’s minister joined South Korea, warning that a deferral is an “extremely exceptional measure” that is tantamount to “interference in an independent judicial body”. Australia also said the matter should be dealt with at th Assembly of State Parties which could consider amendments to the statute. Russia, our friend, disappointed big-time, yelling “calm down, wait and take it up in consultations”. Pakistan followed suit calling for a pragmatic solution. In the end, for all her struggles, Amina only convinced Togo, Morocco, Rwanda (the size of Nyanza province) and Azerbaijan. China as usual is doing business, only taking care of its multi billion dollar new investments in Kenya. With this mountainous failure, why should Amb. Amina continue being the chief diplomat? Mr President, fire her, recall Kamau and make new appointments, else we’ll continue to lose future diplomatic wars: remember, it is you, Mr President, at the Hague!
Posted on: Thu, 07 Nov 2013 04:23:27 +0000
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