Washington, DC — At White House State dinners, toasts are usually fluffy words of undying friendship before a convivial and elegant meal; but Kenya President Mwai Kibaki spoke bluntly Monday night, reviving an issue he has continually pressed during his two-day state visit. "One of our economic pillars is tourism. Unfortunately, the sector has suffered heavy, heavy losses following travel bans imposed by the United States. I am therefore appealing for a lifting of the travel ban."
The unconventional intervention shows that Kibaki is "very savvy, says Leonard Robinson, President and CEO of the Africa Society of the National Summit on Africa. "He took advantage of the dinner to convey in public what he had already conveyed in private to the President."
In almost every meeting with U.S. officials, Kenyans have brought up their dismay at a September 25 extension of an earlier travel advisory that warns U.S. citizens not to visit Kenya. Their argument has been that Kenya's efforts to move forward are handicapped without a reversal of the 'alarming' U.S. warning.
When U.S. Assistant secretary of State for African Affairs, Walter Kansteiner, met with the Kenyan delegation and asked them at one point where they would put investment money in their nation, one member responded, "nowhere". His answer was the inevitable consequence of the travel advisory, he told Kansteiner.
And during his Oval Office meeting with Bush, President Kibaki asked the U.S. president "point blank" according to one source, "Do you know something that we don't know?"
U.S. officials believe that the Al-Qaeda terrorist network is active in the East African nation and have been sceptical of Kenya's ability to effectively combat the group. But President Bush has seemed to be signaling that his administration may be changing it's mind about this: "Kenyan security forces have disrupted terror operations and have arrested suspected terrorists," Bush said, speaking to reporters at the White House, Monday after meeting with Kibaki.
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An important part of U.S.-Kenyan discussion over the last two days has been about beefing up Kenya's internal efforts against terrorism as well as the regional role it will play it that fight. U.S. assistance "also enhance Kenya's role as a peace-maker in the Horn of Africa," President Bush said Monday.
Reports reached allAfrica.com, Tuesday, that the State Department is prepared to "review" the travel advisory but it is not clear to what extent that would address Nairobi's immediate concerns.
A spokesperson for the State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs, which issues travel advisories told allAfrica.com that a review was not underway. "Review is the wrong word," this spokesperson said. "We're constantly reviewing."
Input from embassies, intelligence agencies and other sources shape decision-making about travel advisories, said the spokesperson speaking on background. "It has nothing to do with politics; it has to do with the safety of citizens of the United States."
Though pleased by strengthened ties with the U.S., Kibaki and his delegation seem puzzled as they leave for London Tuesday evening. They arrived assuming that despite the September 25th extension of the travel advisory, a state visit -- the first state visit by an African leader -- might include an announcement that it was being lifted.
