This morning I received an e-mail advertising the World Affairs Council of DC — an organization that creates a forum with a very wide array of global leaders and scholars open to members of the DC community. The e-mail caught my attention and I visited the website to learn more, and on the site was an announcement that the Kenyan Ambassador to the United States would be giving a lecture. Well, I dressed up in my suit later in the evening and made my way downtown to the CSIS building where the event was being hosted. As I stepped into the elevator, I held the door open for none other than the ambassador himself. Breaking the awkward silence that continually pervades elevators, I made eye contact with the ambassador and said in Swahili, “Habari!”. He gave me the up-down look, as if wondering who this white guy is speaking to him in Swahili, and responded “Nzuri”. A few seconds later he asks me “Habari yako?” to which I responded “Nzuri sana, asante.” As he went and met with some of the leaders and coordinators of the Council, I took my seat.

The overall presentation, to my surprise, was much more honest than I expected from members of the diplomatic community. Former US Ambassador to Kenya Prudence Bushnell, who was actually ambassador during the bombing on the Embassy in Nairobi in 1998, introduced Ambassador Ogego with a short speech strongly condemning the current violence, but making a point to acknowledge the resilience of the Kenyan people in helping one another and the idea that it is not in the Kenyan nature to engage in these acts (they are isolated regionally, and in some cases very likely being paid by some entity). KJ would have probably fallen out of her seat with joy! Ambassador Bushnell also praised the work of what she called the “techno-activists” playing such a large role in relief work — those techo-activists clearly including Segeni and the entire MamaMikes team who has partnered with many Kenyan bloggers to coordinate and assist aid/relief efforts. (I encourage you to visit the MamaMikes website and click on “Social Outreach” where not only now can you donate to the children of the MamaFatuma children’s home — but you can also send aid to those in the Red Cross IDP Camps!)

Well, of course some of the questions fielded from the audience included those of “How are the animals coping with the post-election violence?”…Seriously! That made my night! I asked Ambassador Ogego why Raila was pushing this same battle for power that he’s been fighting for relentlessly since the elections in 2002 during this time when in 5 years it seems he is inevitably going to be the President. I also tacked on at the end of my question whether or not the unity government would address the issue of majimboism. Well, the ambassador is a friend of Raila, but surprisingly agreed that the issue should have been taken-up in the courts and that while 5 years is a short time, it’s a long time for a power hungry madman (not his words, exactly). Additionally, Raila’s fight for a Premiership with executive power is completely silly because it makes no sense to have a government run by 2 strong and opposing powers. With regards to majimbosism, the ambassador was not exactly a fan. He said it drew its ties from colonialism and would be taking the country backward instead of forward – an issue I intended to take up with him after the lecture.

After the lecture concluded, I went around the room and talked to several people about my plans for KenyaTrust (I don’t think I’ve formally mentioned that on this site yet…soon!) and advertised MamaMikes.com extensively (Segeni, get ready for those hits!). I met some very interesting people and had some great conversations, many of which I look forward to following up. As I was leaving the building I managed to coincidentally get in the elevator going up with the ambassador. Once we arrived on the ground level I shook his hand and told him it was a pleasure. He seemed very interested in my insight and said he wanted to talk to me more, and I told him I wanted to talk to him more extensively about majimboism (VICTOR!!! haha). We got into an interesting debate on the steps of the building where I was given 2 more business cards — one from a Kenyan who works at the World Bank and I think particularly liked my side of the politics, the other from the ambassador himself who invited me to his office to talk politics. Overall it was an absolutely amazing evening.

To all of those in Kenya reading, you all were in my mind tonight (especially Fred, KJ, Victor, Segeni and all of the MamaMikes team, and of course Mark (while it’s still not exactly the same as Condi, haha)). Everybody was asking me when I was planning on going back to Kenya…haha, so Segeni — maybe I’ll have to prove the soothesayer wrong and book my return flight to Kenya!

Take care, and good night!