If the truth be told, Jamhuri day was well attended. A head count by KSB yielded about 90 people and if judgement is made based on the number of guests who attended the event, there is no reason why the reception cannot be pronounced “a great success”. One could easily smell the presence of diplomats from other countries including the South African Ambassador, Ethiopian, Nigerian, Uganadan, Candian and a host of other diplomats who had been invited to the function. Every diplomat was accompanied and this increased numbers.
At the entrance, the presence of a police car sent a clear message of “tight security” although one could notice almost immediately the handful of placard-carrying picketers who pitched tent a few meters from the lobby under the watchful eye of police. Initially, three police cars were assigned to take care of security but after an evaluation, the threat level appear to have been lowered, leaving one police car.
Some of the placards read: “Shame On You Kenya Embassy!”, “A Child Needs Education”, Where Is Humanity?”, “Why Punish My Husband, Child?” and “Kenyan Embassy Has Money For Party But Not For Treatment Of Sick Diplomat”.
The parking bay at Hotel Plaza was packed to capacity with dark coloured Mercedez Benzes bearing the reminiscent blue diplomatic number plates while there was almost 100 percent surety that majority of the white guests at the event were diplomats from other countries or their acquaintances. The number of Kenyans ranged between 25 and 30 with majority of faces being Wakenya you never come into contact with easily. There were some well established names but if you had your pulse on the Kenyan community, you could notice that the “Big guns” and other “regulars” were missing in action.
Ambassador Purity Muhindi, her husband Dr. Muhindi and Principle Counsellor Ms Josephine Awuor were at hand at the entrance to receive visitors by shaking their hands. The security was so tight that two agents from Säpo (Swedish secret police) kept headquarters updated about the situation. The Embassy appear to have exaggerated the security threat and, for the Swedish government, the issue was not just about providing security cover to the Kenyan embassy at the function but ensuring that members of the diplomatic community who were scheduled to attend the function were well covered so that nothing ugly happened. Exaggerating the threat level worked to the advantage of the Embassy because this prompted the Swedish government to pay attention in terms of security arrangements.
At the strategic level, the Embassy design was simple. Daniel Kotut was in charge of security together with George Kinyua and since the Embassy had information that “trouble makers” were not going to consume anything, the task of both Kottut and Kinyua was to identify Kenyans who were neither consuming the snacks nor swallowing the spirits. Kotut then confronted them politely to ask them why they were not taking anything “to intimidate” them. They were in touch with the Swedish security who were less conspicuous. You needed an “extra eye” to identify the two Swedes who were in charge of “Internal security”. They were seen walking in and out of the hall from time to time as if taking breaks to report something.
AMBASSADOR’S TACTIC OF “NO SPEECHES” KEPT THE EGG AWAY
When it came to protecting the Ambassador, the strategy was to have her surrounded with Embassy staff and to get her to receive visitors for as long as possible. The function was scheduled to last for 2 hrs but for a whole one and a half hours, Ambassador Purity was receiving visitors at the door. This strategy ensured that anybody who was thinking about any physical attack “of the egg type” could find it very difficult firing such a missile because the ambassador was constantly busy save for a few breaks when nobody seem to have been coming in.
When the entrance was “dry of people”, the Ambassaor could engage her husband by appearing as if charting with him. Sometimes, Kottut or Kinyua could stroll towards her for an “update” about the situation inside before slipping back into the hall to mix with the crowd. The tactic worked and the Ambassador was by the door way until guests began to leave so she found herself saying good bye before she could go in and mingle with guests. When she eventually walked in to “chat with Wananchi”, it was 20 minutes before closing time and once the clock hit the target, she left with her husband to celebrate.
The Cheruiyot activists could easily be identified inside because they were not consuming. They were about seven with William Twitoek and Steve taking a leading role especially in the distribution of anti-Ambassador leaf-lets which they carried and which were also being distributed by the picket team outside. They were never interrupted although their movements were monitored closely.
On the surface, Purity looked extremely busy to make a speech at Jamhuri but, in reality, the “No speech option” was part and parcel of her well thought out survival kit. By making a speech, Purity could have exposed herself to well organized hecklers who were part of the disruption team and who had vowed to make it impossible for her to make a speech. It is during a possible speech that the activists had also intended to attack with the “egg missile”. One advantage with the speech session could have been that the attention of the guests could have been hooked on the Ambassador and an activist standing at the back could have had ample of opportunity to fire a missile without much ado. It is this opportunity that was eliminated by the “No speech” design.
Apart from Kinyua and Kottut who were active, another staff member who had responsibility was “Sir George”, a non diplomat from Uganda. He was chosen because many Wakenya do not know him and so he could mingle easily with the crowd. Besides, George doesn’t look like a “Supportive staff” member. He was in a suite and looked more like a highly placed Officer than anything else.
THE STORY OF THE WHEEL CHAIR AND THE ZONKED KENYAN
His role was to take pictures, probably to try and document any action any activist attempted inside the hall for use as “evidence. He was not communicating to anybody (although I did) and appeared, by all intent, to have been at work. It was good for my friend George (he does not give me any info so I hope this won’t be used against him) because he must have earned good “overtime cash” from the operation. Once again, the subordinate staff were missing and you can guess why. Kinyua had a camera too but it looked more like “back up” of George’s activities. A youth (the Ambassador’s son?), had also been placed at the door way and his assignment was to take “all pictures” of people who shook the Ambassador’s hand. While shaking hands with Josephine, it was funny that she could only afford to give “the tips” of her fingers and Mama Sheena really complained.
It is possible to name all Kenyans who appeared at the function although some names are not readily available because the Kenyans have been scarce on the scene. We leave identification for the “Pictorial overview”. The Kenyans present could be divided into two groups. The ones who were consuming and the ones who were boycotters. The consumers guzzled intoxicants as if nothing was happening outside and as the two hours drew to a close, security personnel at the Hotel had to begin looking for wheel chairs because one Kenyan had swallowed one too many. An elderly Kibaki supporter could be heard talking at the top of his voice throughout the function as the whiskies flowed like river nile.
Suddenly, a Kenyan collapsed then prostrated himself on the floor. After a few minutes, he was helped on his feet but when he saw the wheel chair that had been engaged to ferry him to the lobby, he refused to board. When he rose on his feet, it was like some springs had been attached on his knees because he was kinda wobbling in a funny way while at the same time trying to defend himself against proposals that he needed to go home and have a rest. When the security guard proposed that the Management call a Taxi, the guy’s expression suddenly changed then he gained some strength. Eventually, he was helped out by the guards as KSB took pictures from behind for the archive.
Just during closing time, there was an altercation between two Kenyans and once again, police had to be called. At least one Kenyan was arrested on suspicion of terrorist links but the story is sensitive and we cannot go further. The Kenyan has since been released.
Later, the whole squad of Kenyans retreated to Vasa to analyse the evening’s events. The Temple was filled to capacity and it was not until late when Wakenya began to stagger home as they sung the national anthem which was never given room at the reception.
Okoth Osewe
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