President Uhuru Kenyatta waded into another divisive diplomatic issue when he expressly supported Palestinian push for statehood and revealed that Kenya is considering the restive Arab nation’s request to build an embassy in Nairobi.
The president, who met Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas on the sidelines of the ongoing Kuwait Arab-Africa meeting said his government will continue to support Palestinian bid for independence, a position opposed by both the US and Israel.
â€Kenya, alongside other like-minded countries, voted in favour of a resolution of the UN General Assembly to grant Palestine the status of a non-member State of the UN,†he said, adding that Kenya acknowledge Palestine’s interest to re-open its Embassy in Nairobi.
In 2011, the US opposed Palestine’s bid to use the UN Security Council to push its statehood bid, saying “peace will not come through statements and resolutions at the U.Nâ€.
While the president’s gesture may not be as powerful as the American, his sentiments comes days after terrorists attacked an Israeli-owned facility in Nairobi, complicating issues for a country which climbs mountainous lengths to protect its citizens and interests.
For Uhuru, the Palestinian support is part of an on ongoing attempt to woo as many countries as possible to save him from the international judicial menace at the ICC.
Because the West insists on his Hague trial, Uhuru’s gambles in the East has seen him recast Kenya’s old foreign policy with traditional allies, opting for new partnerships with the Arab World, probably hoping to get Kenya a safe landing ground should the chips begin to fall.
EDITOR’S NOTE: A year ago, writer Rashid Wanjala forewarned that Uhuru will end up courting Hamas if elected President. READ: Why UHURU Kenyatta TNA is like HAMAS