The Flag before (L) and after fixing (R)
Following exposures at KSB and a protest letter to the Kenyan Ambassador Mrs. Purity Muhindi, the shameful Kenyan flag that has been hanging at the Kenyan Embassy in Stockholm has now been fixed. The old, weather-beaten and tattered flag that has been a source of concern to many Kenyans has been replaced with a brand new flag that now hangs outside the Embassy in bright colours.
The Kenya Red Alliance (KRA) takes this opportunity to congratulate the Embassy for having taken action over the issue after it was raised on a serious note. Kenya does not belong to the Embassy or Ambassador Purity Muhindi. For this reason, it is the responsibility of all Kenyans to act as Ambassadors of their country and intervene when the country’s affairs are not being managed as they should be. The responsibility of looking after our country’s interests rests with Kenyans both at home and abroad.
The image of the country is very important and when this image is being subjected to unnecessary ridicule because an official being paid by tax payer’s money is not doing his/her work, it is the responsibility of the citizens to act. When KRA wrote to the Ambassador demanding that the issue be given due attention, it was not out of politics but out of serious concern. We hope that the Ambassador has learnt that the Embassy is not her private property and that it cannot be managed like a family business.
According to sources, there was an attempt by the Ambassador to blame the flag problem on the weather. Strictly speaking, the flag should be raised daily in the morning and lowered in the evening. Because this might not be practical due to the location of the Embassy and other factors, it is even more urgent that the physical state of the flag is examined from time to time so that it does not degenerate to an extent that it becomes an eye sore in Stockholm’s Central Business District.
The flag aside, there are loads of issues at the Embassy which needs to be addressed. Kenyans in Scandinavia need an Embassy they can work with, just like other nationalities and their Embassies in Stockholm. It is shameful that while other nationalities organize functions and invite their Ambassadors to preside over as the Guest of Honour, our Ambassador is permanently holed up at the Embassy and never attends Kenyan functions.
Kenya-Stockholmers do not want to be seen as the enemy of Embassy staff. There is need to cultivate a working relationship with this important institution so that its existence can serve the interests of Kenyan nationals resident in Scandinavia. At the moment, the Embassy has been reduced to issuing visas to European Passport-holders wishing to travel to Kenya and attending to tourists as the interest of Kenyans are routinely neglected.
This should not be the case and Kenyans in Scandinavia should send a delegation to meet the Ambassador and help her understand or come to terms with the expectations of the Kenyan community in Scandinavia. While the flag issue has been resolved, much still needs to be done to enable Kenyans in Scandinavia view the Embassy as their Embassy.
We take this opportunity to thank all Kenyans who contributed (in various ways) in putting pressure on the Ambassador to act on the flag issue. Special thanks to our Papparazzi who has been monitoring the flag and filing reports accordingly. It has been a collective effort that has shown that action produces results. The question which now remains is whether a new campaign is needed for Purity to be recalled so that a new era of dialogue between Kenyans and the Embassy can begin.
We have a Coalition government in Kenya and there is no reason why we cannot have an open Embassy in Stockholm where Kenyans can engage and utilize their potential to change Kenya in various ways. We are in a situation where no Kenyan can approach the Embassy with an idea because the bottom line is that the Ambassador is either unresponsive or sleeping on the job. If she could not even notice the flag problem until she was reminded, Purity needs to call it a day, say good-bye, board a Kenya Airways flight and return to the motherland to rest after her disastrous career at the Kenyan Embassy in Stockholm.
Okoth Osewe
Interim secretary
Kenya Red Alliance (KRA)
About the Author
Bwana Osewe, this is what some people call “the power of the pen”. your writing seem to be moving things. you are one kenyan in stockholm who deserves sincere praise. keep it up brother. our country needs people like you.
KSB: Thanks. there is work to be done so we do it little by little.
Great work Osewe and the Paparazzi for exposing the clowns. Keep up the good work and the pressure must continue. A brand new flag removes the shame that the Embassy brought upon our great name.
KRA,the full court press you and other concerns gave”the house of purity”about the dilapitated state of our Kenyan flag bored friut,i hope that pressing issues that wakenya have tried to bring to purity`s attention will start to be considered….hongera!!!KRA.
Thanks KSB for this ,You have made us proud as kenyans.
I have a small Opinion; Lets say Hon Lady Purity is representing more than 30 million kenyans in Scandanivea( Iam assumming this because,She was choosen by the Presedent of republic of kenya to represent him),She is no ordinary clerk in the Embassy but CEO, therefore some her decision might be bitter or she might look like arogant because of the way some citezen are approaching her.
Anyway what I want to say is there anything positive in her which , which we can exploit(to her critics)
KSB: Mkelenge, this is a very simple question. The only positive thing about Purity is that she promotes African dresses everywhere she goes. The problem is that she was posted at the Embassy as a political Ambassador and not as a fashion model. Instead of representing the country, she is advertising clothes in Scandinavia.
Thanks KSB…….what a good way to start the year with a strong wake up call for the sleeping lot of Kenyans representing us at theKenyan embassy…..am not sure though if you are right by calling her excellency the ambassador a fashion model, maybe her designer needs afew more designs coz some of us are actually getting tired of her uniform outfit with a kitambaa round her forhead….surely kitenges have beautiful designs….some advice, maybe she should visit the Kenyatta market next time she is in Nai. Na
KSB: Well said.
Ambassadors are the highest representatives of their governments abroad. Their primary responsibility is to represent the interest of their government or head of state in the courts or capitals of other nations or group of nations.
Extension of policy
Protected by diplomatic immunity, an ambassador is generally the head of a foreign mission or embassy and is responsible for the administration of all the various offices related to the embassy. The embassy is an extension of policy or its representative in a foreign land and may contain different specialized sections such as the economic, political and consular sections.
Ultimate responsibility
Though all these sections have their designated heads the ultimate responsibility is that of the Ambassador. In terms of conflict or the pursuit of peace it is the Ambassador who represents the interest of his government abroad.
KSB: We agree on this. So the Ambassador should protect the image of the Nation buy keeping away a rag for a flag.