The European Parliament yesterday voted for a freeze of all budgetary support to Kenya until a political settlement to the disputed re-election of President Kibaki is found.
The decision made at a parliamentary session in Strasburg is the first such action taken by the country's development partners since Mr Kibaki was declared the winner of the December 27 election, which the opposition claims was rigged in his favour.
"The European Parliament asks for the freezing of all budgetary support to the Government until a political solution to the crisis is found," the deputies said in a resolution.
If effected, this resolution could put at risk a number of infrastructure, energy and water projects that have been the major beneficiaries of EU financing over the past five years.
Though its support to Kenya is small compared to other African countries, the EU remains one of Nairobi's top donors. Since 2002, the European Union has financed the government budget to the tune of Sh28.4 billion.
Besides, it had earmarked Sh37.5 billion for infrastructure, energy and water projects between 2008 and 2013. Yesterday, EU parliamentarians condemned the violence and maintained that the result of the election was not credible. They called for a fresh vote "if a fair recount is not possible."
Through the resolution, the MPs said they were "deeply concerned by the social repercussions of the crisis, its detrimental effect on the country's socio-economic development and the economic consequences for neighbouring countries."
They criticised the EU executive for disbursing Sh3.9 billion in budgetary support to Kenya on December 28 - a day after the controversial elections.
But in what could sound a temporary reprieve for Kenya, EU Aid and Development Commissioner Louis Michel said it would go with the parliamentary resolution but explained that the December 28 disbursement was made before doubts over the results emerged.
The Head of EU delegation in Kenya, Mr Eric van der Linden, said that although he fully agreed with legislators' analysis, his office may delay effecting it on humanitarian grounds. "The crisis is having a bad effect on the Kenyan people and our priority is to improve the humanitarian conditions," he said.
His comments came barely two days after the European Commission earmarked about Sh550 million in humanitarian aid for victims of post-election violence in Kenya with indications that the funds would go to meeting the basic needs of the displaced.
While announcing the move, Mr Michel expressed concern over the plight of people driven from their homes in recent weeks.
"More than a quarter of a million people are displaced and a similar number living a precarious existence in the shanty towns, have been badly affected. We urge all the parties to stop immediately the violence and to engage immediately and seriously in talks with a view to find a political solution."
The funds, channelled through the Commission's humanitarian aid department (ECHO), will target key essentials for displaced people and refugees including tents, clean water, sanitation, emergency health care, basic household equipment, hygiene products, food and logistics.
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Excellent article "EU Freezes Aid Over Post-Poll Stalemate."
Will All Africa readership explain to me why when an African nation is at odds with one another European nations and America find it a humanitarian act to cut of food and medicine supplies to the nation?
Please inform me how this is an act of humanity.
Where in Christian ethics is cutting off food supplies and medicine to two people at odds with one another a civilized caring gesture of kindness.
Is it the purpose to persecute and humiliate Kenya, Zimbabwe, Cuba, and other poor nations because after underdeveloping there economies from colonial times the West has the power to penalize at the drop of a hat.
Or is it because Barack Obama is running for the President of the United States of America and his father is from Africa, Kenya you find it honorable to throw your partners in America a bone.
The only words I can come up with is spiteful, spoiled, and cruel.
My recommendations: cut the damn television and radio gossip shows, movies, news, cigarettes, liquor, dope, luxury items, and social entertainment contact.
But to cut of food is immature, childlike, and undiplomatic. I am sorry I have to speak my mind, European Union; and America who is next in line to cut food.
Lloyd Whitefield Butler, Jr.
we are not addressing the people of Africa..I would give aid to the average African man women or child...it is the African leaders that make me want to be sick, they do not give a damn about thier people they just want to line thier own pockets and stash all the aid to thier Countries from The U.S.A. and the U.K. in thier personel Swiss bank accounts...the majority of African Countries are so corrupt it makes me want to be sick...I no longer give to the African Countries....KENYA...zimbabwe...South AFRICA... the goverments are so corrupt under black rule...by the way I am not a white South African.nor am I a white Rhodesian I am a white Brit...I am not a racist...I have met a lot of good black people in my life...but Africa under black rule is so currupt and I for one would cut off all aid to black Africa... they hate the white race so much then let them survive without our help and our technology... you only have to look at Zimbabwe and South Africa to see how the black race regress back to what they were before the white man pioneered thier Country.... let the U.S.A. and the U.K. and the rest of the western Countries open up to all white South Africans and White Rhodisians who what to leave Africa before there is whole scale genocide of the white race and let them emmigrate to the western Countries... they would be an asset to our Countries....and then we can all sit back and watch tribe killing tribe and the whole of Africa revert back to the jungle it was before the white man set foot in Africa....let them have thier bloody Continent and get on with it...let them have thier civil wars with each other who cares....lets see how long they suvive without white technology.
we are not addressing the people of Africa..I would give aid to the average African man women or child...it is the African leaders that make me want to be sick, they do not give a damn about thier people they just want to line thier own pockets and stash all the aid to thier Countries from The U.S.A. and the U.K. in thier personel Swiss bank accounts...the majority of African Countries are so corrupt it makes me want to be sick...I no longer give to the African Countries....KENYA...zimbabwe...South AFRICA... the goverments are so corrupt under black rule...by the way I am not a white South African.nor am I a white Rhodesian I am a white Brit...I am not a racist...I have met a lot of good black people in my life...but Africa under black rule is so currupt and I for one would cut off all aid to black Africa... they hate the white race so much then let them survive without our help and our technology... you only have to look at Zimbabwe and South Africa to see how the black race regress back to what they were before the white man pioneered thier Country.... let the U.S.A. and the U.K. and the rest of the western Countries open up to all white South Africans and White Rhodisians who what to leave Africa before there is whole scale genocide of the white race and let them emmigrate to the western Countries... they would be an asset to our Countries....and then we can all sit back and watch tribe killing tribe and the whole of Africa revert back to the jungle it was before the white man set foot in Africa....let them have thier bloody Continent and get on with it...let them have thier civil wars with each other who cares....lets see how long they suvive without white technology.
Here in Kenya,we are amazed at the zeal in which the EU has defended ODM's Rigging Cause. At times, Kenyans cannot tell the difference between EU and ODM. The impression created by EU is that there was a consipiracy between them and the leader of the Oppositon to distabilise the country if the opposition failed to win.Kenya should be bold enough to call off EU's bluff and say the to hell with their aid. We all know the MOU EU had with RAILA before elections to make him president at all costs then he will resume monopoly of contracts for Britain and EU countries etc etc. Shame on EU The GK asked them to prove their rigging case but when they failed resulted to AID blackmail because they have no proof. Kibaki's sin is going EAST and shunning the exploitative West. Why do they want to impose a MOBUTU in KENYA? we are not fools you know! Be become a Zimambwe without AId than receive token aid from sadists like EU' Jane wambu
Nyakio, did you do some thourough research before you comment on this article or being pro-illegit government has barred you from pursuing the truth?
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