There is mounting concern that Ambassador Joseph Sang of the Kenya Stockholm Embassy will once again not host a party to celebrate Kenya’s 52nd Jamhuri [Independence] Day on December 12th 2015. If he does so, Kenyans will miss out as they did in 2014.
Where is 2014 Jamhuri cash?
Ambassador Sang did not notify Kenyans earlier in 2014 that he would not host the event. In fact, it was the first time ever in the history of the Embassy that this was not done. Moreover, there was no information from the government of Kenya that embassies should stop hosting Independence Day celebrations. Kenyans were therefore left to speculate on what he might have done with the money. Given that he is employed by the rabidly corrupt Jubilee Government, some felt that he had pocketed the reported 400,000Kr that is normally allocated annually for the event. The last entry on the Embassy’s website for an event which hosted Kenyans was Swahili Day, in June 2015. So far, there is no indication that Sang will be throwing a party.
The Twitter-addicted Ambassador Sang has been marketing Kenya vigorously on social media, yet the truth is that the country has gone to the dogs, considering the soaring corruption and chocking commodity prices which the majority poor cannot afford. His overall boss Uhuru Kenyatta has become a tourist who spends billions of taxpayers’ money globetrotting, fetching loans which are crippling Kenya since they are mismanaged, and shall hamper the economic progress of future generations.
In 2013, Uhuru traveled to China for five days with an order of lamb chops, fish, Fanta and ugali worth $80,000 (Ksh7 million) from a Nairobi hotel. His handlers claimed Uhuru’s favorite lamb chops were not available in China. This is the sad reality of being led by insensitive leaders like Uhuru and Sang. They think they are entitled to Kenya’s mali ya umma (public wealth) which they can use according to their personal feelings. They should instead be humble servants of Kenyans.
During their separate visits to Kenya this year, both President Obama and Pope Francis stressed that corruption perpetuates poverty while enriching only a few individuals. Sang must therefore mention to Kenyans why he is denying them Jamhuri Day celebration parties. In Africa, it is only President Magufuli of Tanzania who has banned this year’s Independence Day celebrations, as part of his austerity measures to streamline the economy.
Ambassador Sang pretended to be a man of the people when he was posted to Stockholm in 2013, but with time, he has shown his Apartheid-like nature that favors Kenyans whose tribes lean towards the Jubilee government. Clearly, he is following the Nairobi script, reminiscent of former Dictator Moi’s era of terror in Kenya. It is to Sang’s disadvantage especially on social media, if he keeps showing such traits because he shall be hammered until he reforms. A number of Kenyans have also complained that they are not well-received at the Embassy when they visit for services.
Kenya-Stockholmers are waiting with bated breath to see if Sang will host Jamhuri Day or will once again do us another illegal Magufuli.
Jared Odero
Filed under: Debate, News & Analysis
