In a compelling open letter addressed to Kenyan President William Ruto, renowned author Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o expressed deep concern over Ruto’s recent state visit to the United States. The letter, titled “An Open Letter to William Ruto,” was shared by Femi Fani-Kayode on his verified Twitter account, sparking widespread discussion among Kenyans and the international community.
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, a prolific writer and prominent figure in African literature, criticized President Ruto for the optics and implications of his meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden. Thiong’o described the imagery from the visit as “very disturbing,” particularly highlighting a photograph where Ruto is seated and smiling while Biden stands behind him, smiling with apparent satisfaction. According to Thiong’o, this image symbolized a troubling dynamic, wherein Ruto had agreed to align Kenya closely with NATO.
Thiong’o accused Ruto of turning Kenya into “NATO’s errand boy” in America’s geopolitical contest with Russia and China. He argued that this alignment risks compromising Kenya’s sovereignty and exploiting the continent’s resources in favor of Western powers. The author recalled NATO’s controversial role in the 2011 intervention in Libya, which led to the death of Muammar Gaddafi. Thiong’o noted that Gaddafi had nationalized Libyan oil fields for national benefit and was a former chairman of the African Union, an organization that Kenya helped establish.
Furthermore, Thiong’o pointed out the stark contrast between the White House meeting and simultaneous protests in Haiti. As Ruto engaged in high-level talks, Haitians took to the streets, condemning him as a “slave” to Western powers. Thiong’o urged Ruto to educate himself on Haiti’s history by reading “The Black Jacobins” by C.L.R. James, a seminal work on the Haitian Revolution and its implications for colonial resistance and Pan-Africanism.
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o’s letter highlights deep-seated anxieties about Kenya’s foreign policy direction under Ruto’s administration. The criticism reflects broader concerns about neo-colonialism and the role of African nations in global power struggles. As these discussions unfold, the open letter serves as a poignant reminder of the historical and contemporary challenges facing African leadership on the global stage..……See More
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