We won't succumb to US pressure on Libya, says Saitoti

By Steve Mkawale

The Government was Friday defiant vowing not to succumb to US pressure to sever links with the embattled Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Acting Foreign Affairs Minister George Saitoti accused Western powers of using “violence against civilians” in Libya and announced no measures to freeze Libyan assets in Kenya.

“Kenya has not acceded to pressure by third parties to severe diplomatic ties with Libya,” he said and added that calls to cut links with Gaddafi are “contrary to Kenya’s position of the best way” out of the Libyan crisis besides contradicting recent African Union resolutions calling for a negotiated settlement to the war in the North African nation.

Kenya has come under immense pressure from the US since April to shut down the Libyan embassy in Nairobi and seize the assets to fulfil UN Security Council resolutions 1970 and 1973 but has so far resisted.On June 21, the Foreign ministry redeployed Antony Muchiri, the Kenyan High Commissioner to Libya despite the growing isolation of the Libyan leader.

And yesterday Prof Saitoti said Prof Muchiri was sent back to Tripoli to closely monitor the situation on the ground.

It was highly expected the Cabinet would meet next week to take a position on the matter, but with Saitoti’s pronouncement, this seems unlikely.

It has since emerged that Kenya was on the radar of the international community, not only because of the belief that if it plays along, the rest of Africa would follow suit but also because of Libya’s vast assets in Kenya. They include Laico Regency Hotel and Oil Libya which is an oil marketing chain with over 100 petrol stations.

It is estimated Libya’s assets in Kenya are worth billions of shilling.

However, it is not clear whether Gaddafi personally, or Libya own these assets.

Saitoti told a hurriedly convened news conference at his Harambee House offices in Nairobi Kenya would not bow to pressure from foreign governments on the issue but she will make her own decision.

“Kenya has not acceded to pressure by third parties to severe diplomatic ties with Libya. This is because the position is contrary to Kenya’s position on the best way out of the Libyan crisis,” said Saitoti.