Man derided as ‘junior senator’ now the most powerful man

By Athman Amran

When he was junior Illinois Senator, Obama’s criticism of the Government when he visited the country in 2006 elicited sharp reactions from Government Spokesman Alfred Mutua and the Kenyan Ambassador to the US Oginga Ogego.

During a speech at the University of Nairobi, Obama urged Kenyans to oppose corruption and ethnic divisions in Government.

"In the end, if the people cannot trust their government to do the job for which it exists – to protect them and promote their common welfare – all else is lost," Obama said.

Perceived as an ally of Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Mutua felt that the Illinois Senator was meddling in the country’s politics.

The Government Spokesman said Obama’s criticisms were based on "misinformation" about Kenyan affairs and dismissed him as just a "junior senator from Illinois….very poorly informed".

Even more enthusiastic to defend Kenya against allegations of tribalism and corruption was Ogego.

The envoy, who had just been posted to Washington DC, castigated Obama even before presenting his credentials to President Bush.

Part of Ogego’s letter to Obama read: "Your unprovoked and uncalled for statements were in bad taste."

Ogego added: "You deliberately and without real cause or reason, other than what appears to seek cheap publicity, chose to publicly attack the democratically elected Government of Kenya..." Ogego had to eat humble pie when the "junior senator" from Illinois went on to win the US presidential elections with a landslide.

And Mutua termed the US President-elect’s victory as "a great moment in our history and heritage".

Mutua added: "This is a great and proud moment for all of us. As a government and a country, we consider this a defining moment in our history and the history of the world."