[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 34 (Thursday, March 16, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2306-S2307]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 KENYA

  Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, I wish to bring attention to troubling 
political developments in Kenya. Earlier this week, Kenyans witnessed 
the most aggressive assault on media since the country's independence 
in 1963, when elite police and paramilitary commandos armed with AK-47s 
stormed the offices of the Standard Group's TV station, Kenya 
Television Network and the Standard newspaper. Internal Security 
Minister John Michuki ordered the event in an apparent attempt to 
prevent the newspaper from publishing a story on a sensitive political 
matter. Saying little more than ``when you rattle a snake you must 
prepare to be bitten,'' President Kibaki has failed to take swift and 
sufficient action to condemn this event.
  Unfortunately, this event, while deeply troubling in itself, is but 
the latest manifestation of a larger problem in Kenya today. Over the 
last year, President Kibaki and senior members of his government have 
presided over a growing level of turmoil concerning corruption charges, 
mismanagement of public funds, insufficient anti-corruption efforts, 
and political favoritism. Particularly troubling are allegations that 
senior members of Kibaki's government have been involved in a number of 
large, illegal business dealings with public money. The most visible of 
these allegations--which Mr. Kibaki apparently knew about more than a 
year ago--came to light in a report written by the man who was 
appointed by the president himself to help expose corruption. He is now 
in London in exile after receiving death threats.
  I am concerned that Kenya may be backsliding. Just 4 years ago, the 
Kenyan people went to the polls and marked an historic event in the 
country's political history. Kenyans unambiguously rejected years of 
mismanagement, corruption, and declining economic growth experienced 
under previous regimes. The opposition National Rainbow Coalition, 
NARC, was overwhelmingly elected to power, ending more than 40 years of 
rule by the Kenya African National Union, KANU. Now, only 4 years after 
these elections, President Kibaki's government is beginning to revert 
to strong-man tactics as evidenced in this week's raid. It also 
apparently unwilling to take seriously the significant corruption 
present throughout senior levels of Kenya's government and in the 
president's own cabinet.
  While these are discouraging developments, I am heartened that the 
Kenyan people have responded with such passion. Kenyans are rightfully 
outraged. Thousands of demonstrators filled the streets of Nairobi on 
Tuesday, and a range of media sources denounced the raid as 
``thuggish'' and ``corrupt.'' Radio programs, TV shows, and newspapers 
are devoting significant attention to the government's inept management 
of corruption charges and the recent raid. Resignations of key 
ministers, new court cases, and active opposition parties are all 
testaments to the positive political developments Kenya has made. It is 
essential that Kenyans do not lose this progress.
  We have an opportunity to send a firm message to President Kibaki 
that this type of behavior does not benefit his government or the 
Kenyan people. Kenya is a critical partner in a particularly important 
region. It has served as a leader in the region and in Africa, and will 
continue to be a friend to the United States. But if Kenya's government 
wants to maintain its credibility as a government representative of the 
Kenyan people and a leader in the region, it must take immediate 
actions to address recent developments and renew its pledge to fight 
corruption.
  In conclusion, the international community must condemn in the 
strongest manner possible the Kenyan government's use of security 
forces to limit political discussion and the freedom of the press. The 
international community must also support efforts of Kenyan citizens to 
hold their government accountable for weeding out corruption and 
political favoritism. As the country turns its attention toward the 
2007 general elections, the international community must help Kenyans 
strengthen democratic processes, advance political freedoms, and fight 
corruption--and perhaps most importantly, signal to President Kibaki 
that

[[Page S2307]]

too much progress has been made in Kenya to allow for a reversion to 
old, corrupt, violent political practices.

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