For the few weeks to come, the most talked about person in Kenya will be Barack Obama. The US President’s visit from July 24th has stirred understandable excitement among Kenyans – from ordinary citizens and the conniving politicians to deal-savvy business leaders.
The Kenyan economy is abuzz, so much that the dramatic fall of the shilling has been drowned in the cheers and giggles on Obama’s tour which, to all intents and purposes, will be a home-coming of sorts for a man whose roots are found deep in a village on the shores of Lake Victoria.
Yes, Obama’s visit will turn the wheels of fortune for Kenya. Suddenly, foreign investor interest has skyrocketed. Even those who had dumped Kenya like Sir Richard Branson by withdrawing Virgin Atlantic airline from our skies were smiling back. Kenya has been lagging behind in attracting FDI and our smaller neighbours, Uganda and Rwanda, often share the spoils.
Mr Obama will some kind of brand ambassador, giving Kenya that much-craved for global endorsement to sit on the high table.
Locally, this trip has been godsend. Previously neglected areas in Nairobi are getting touch-ups. Mombasa Road promises to look like paradise. The Railways bus terminus has been lit and muddy potholes replaced with smooth tarmac.KICC is spending hundreds of millions on sprucing itself up while Sayia County has budgeted dozens of millions on grooming its streets and villages just in case Obama decides to pay by.
Yet this over excitement is misplaced. Obama will come around for whatever period and leave us to grapple with our problems of corruption, traffic jams and stinking garbage. Those nicely done lawns will turn into homes for street families and havens of thugs at night. Our politicians will get back to the campaign trail to call each other names as they build community blocks for the next elections.
After July 24-26, life will get back to normal and there will only two winners: Obama and the US. He will have mended fences with Kenya and US corporates can come reap billions from us. He will leave behind a country with half its population still poor, with some facing starvation.
And because of this renewed relationship, Kenya will have to watch its shoulder ever more vigilantly because someone among the terror gang of al Shabaab won’t be too happy. It’s a risk worth taking if, indeed, it will bring business and jobs and, as many expect, instill good governance and democracy.
Let’s talk and joke about him like a normal guest, except for the heavy security. Because, like former President Daniel Moi once retorted when pushed to appoint a vice-president, Obama’s visit “will not increase the number of sufurias and plates of ugali” in our houses.
The writer is the managing editor of businesstoday.co.ke. Email: [email protected]
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