Rob Macaire

High Commissioner to Kenya

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Monday 06 April, 2009

UK and Kenya- G20 Summit

During my trip to London last week, colleagues in the Foreign Office were focused on plans for the G20 summit to reach agreement on dealing with the current global financial crisis. Our Africa Minister, Lord Malloch Brown, was continuing to work closely with the Prime Minister (Gordon Brown) to help ensure that the commitments being discussed for the Summit reflected needs identified by African leaders when they met the Prime Minister in London on 16 March.

For me, living in Kenya but coming from the UK, it's striking how much more concern there is in Europe than here about the economic crisis. And yet although the crisis started in Western financial institutions, African countries stand to be hit just as badly by the global downturn.

Now that the Summit has finished, I'm wondering what Kenyans think of the outcomes?  Do you think they will help Africa?  I am proud that the UK has been leading the way to press for developed countries to honour their commitments to the developing world, but there are also things that all governments will need to do if the world economy is going to be kept on track for recovery. What more do you think needs to be done?

Rob

Posted at 14:15 06 April 2009 by Rob Macaire  |  Comments[7]

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hi is kibaki normal really?? how the hell can he swear in to office judges without even consulting karua. all we need is education one kenya. i have noticed these days every mp is talking on politics on tribal lines we need unity of the country kudos to karua for resigning!!!!1

Posted by Mule on April 06, 2009 at 05:26 PM EAT #

there is something that needs to be reveal about george muhoo of kenya airports. why did he get back the contract........coz its time for them to EAT. lets push more

Posted by mule on April 06, 2009 at 05:34 PM EAT #

Sir, The developed countries first should sustain the pledges made to the developing nations. Secondly the trading between this two sidesshould not bo one sided, but I am wondering like the horticulture industry in Kenya must surely be affected, this is because the Britons do not have money to spare for flowers, this will surely impact on us as jobs will be lost especially in the flower farms. Thirdly the political bickering in Kenya will surely impact on us, as no foreign investers will come here, now that even Martha Karua has resigned. We are surely in big trouble. Fouthly and lastly it is the developed countries who can help the developing worlds but if and only if corruption is delt with sooner than later.

Posted by Benjamin Mogere Masenge on April 06, 2009 at 08:03 PM EAT #

Greetings and thank you for opening this space for us to share ideas with you and others. You are aware that the transitional problems we are experiencing are because of the 'backlog' from Independence. A white ruling elite handed over to a lack ruling elite. So our problems, though class oriented have been wrapped in tribal clothing which so effectively served the British as 'divide and rule'. But thankfully, our youth cannot entirely buy the tribal tag because they have related across the board as they grew up. All this is impinging on the economy We urgently need institutional reforms at government level. In addition and perhaps even more critical, we need an effective intervention mechanism to facilitate succession in leadership across the board. The persons who are to implement Vision 2030 are in their teens and twenties now. How are they being prepared for such an onerous responsibility

Posted by Shuah Ajayo Anyamba on April 09, 2009 at 10:39 AM EAT #

Your Excellency, the notion of "aid" that was originally perpetrated by the "donors", such as Britain, and that was promptly internalized by the recipients, such as Kenya, may well be the reason 4 decades of cash inflows have not substantively changed the lot of Africans. A prosperous, peaceful and stable Africa is a compelling investment for the developed world. In any case, if you take a historical perspective, much of the developed world already owes much more than that to Africa.

Posted by Mucemi Mwangi on April 09, 2009 at 02:36 PM EAT #

It is good to note the commitments from the G20 seeing that the crisis is not of our making--it originates from the west, largely the US and Europe. But I am sceptical as to whether those commitments will be met because those countries are facing serious problems of their own, which they must deal with rather than sending money out. I am also curious to know what your thoughts are regarding what the silver lining to this crisis might be. Is there a chance that we might see investor flight from the developed world? Especially with the sweep towards nationalization of banks in the US, UK etc? If so, should we be thinking of how to benefit from this possibility?

Posted by hadassah on April 10, 2009 at 04:30 AM EAT #

Jambo, Sir.You want to know Africa's true needs as from the Economic/political point of view? Please don't ask our African leaders;they will only give you what they, as leaders need, namely posh vehicles, exorbitant pay perks,more power ,more sovereignty and long life. Instead ask the common citizen on the street and in the village. What these two groups say will be the average need of Kenya and Africa. As for the global economic crisis most Africans may not notice its effects since most of them have been used to living with anything other than air, sunlight and darkness, thanks to theirmajority insensitive leaders! As a Kenyan I think without you challenging the existing leadership we don't expect anything.

Posted by Chacha George M on April 21, 2009 at 08:29 PM EAT #

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