Prometheus 6   

US Terror Warnings and Bush Failure to Visit Anger Nairobi
June 24, 2003
Posted to the web June 24, 2003

By Charles Cobb Jr.
Washington, DC

The travel warning issued for Kenya, the closing of the U.S. embassy and now the decision by President Bush not to visit Kenya during his trip to Africa next month, has left a bitter taste in the mouths of Kenyan officials. "You are not issuing similar warnings for Egypt, Jordan or Saudi Arabia where there are more terrorist cells [than in Kenya]," says Minister of Public Works, Raila Odinga. "President Bush cannot come to Nairobi because Nairobi is unsafe but he can go to Jordan. Are we not applying a double standard?"

Kenya feels "let down and offended" that President Bush will go to Kampala but not Nairobi, said Odinga. "The reason being given is that Kenya is unsafe. If there are terrorist cells in Kenya, Mombasa or whatever, what is there to stop them from crossing the border? There is no "Berlin Wall" between Kenya and Uganda."

Odinga, and his fellow Minister for Provincial Administration and National Security, Dr. Chris Murungaru, spoke to allAfrica.com in Washington, D.C. Monday where they are pressing for the warning to be lifted and for more resources to support Kenya's efforts against terrorism. "Rather than issue a travel warning, [the U.S.] should assist us to protect not just ourselves, but yourselves as well, since you are the primary target," said Murungaru.

There is "no reason" to issue an advisory against travel to Kenya, argues Murungaru, calling the warning "unfair". Both the U.S. advisory issued in mid-May, and Britain's own warning, which prompted British Airways to suspend to suspend flights to Kenya, are "making a bad situation much, much worse."