It seems Walter Johannes Lindner, German Ambassador to Kenya, is leaving soon. He has just thrown a farewell party at the US ambassador’s residence in Muthaiga. Present at the bash, notably, is the whole or at least most of the Kenya’s cabinet. I see Deputy Prime Minister Mudavadi, and others like Hon. Saitoti, Hon. Kimunya, Hon. Ntimama, all of them. Although, Mzee is definitely missing. He must have dozed off elsewhere. I hope Mama Lucy will not gatecrash on the pretext that they are making noise for her to sleep. You remember what happened to Mr. Makhtar Diop, the World Bank Country Director, a few years ago!
Ok back to Ambassador Lindner. I have deep respect for him. Academically and professionally, he has achieved. He read law at the university and did political science as a subsidiary course. He has worked widely before as a translator (for Spanish and Portuguese), an editor, a human rights advocate and of course as a diplomat at the UN and in several countries. He is also a professional musician and plays the piano. Not only has he been ably representing German in Kenya, he has also been advancing his countries interests in Somali, Burundi and Seychelles. Incredible indeed.
But here is a bone to pick with the ambassador. I have personally seen him on very few occasions, I can count them. Which to me is a compliment. Ambassadors are diplomats and diplomats are not meant to be celebrities or public lecturers. However, on the few occasions I have set my eyes on him or read about him in the media, he seems to always be walking or standing in front of, behind or beside one Michael Ranneberger, the US Ambassador to Kenya. I think Ambassador Ranneberger has been so conspicuous in Ambassador Lindner mission in Kenya that we have little to celebrate of him (the latter).
One would say that the US and Germany share common interest in Kenya and East Africa. True! Still that does not justify Ambassador Lindner implicitly working under his US counterpart. It seems to me that Ambassador Ranneberger has simply been using Ambassador Lindner as a support to his agenda to Kenya, to show that there's always somebody backing him/seconding his message. That is objectifying.
As regards, even though Ambassador Lindner could have been a great diplomat, I will remember him simply as the Ambassador with very long hair and an ardent supporter of Ambassador Ranneberger.
Bye Lindner! Bon Voyage!
Ok back to Ambassador Lindner. I have deep respect for him. Academically and professionally, he has achieved. He read law at the university and did political science as a subsidiary course. He has worked widely before as a translator (for Spanish and Portuguese), an editor, a human rights advocate and of course as a diplomat at the UN and in several countries. He is also a professional musician and plays the piano. Not only has he been ably representing German in Kenya, he has also been advancing his countries interests in Somali, Burundi and Seychelles. Incredible indeed.
But here is a bone to pick with the ambassador. I have personally seen him on very few occasions, I can count them. Which to me is a compliment. Ambassadors are diplomats and diplomats are not meant to be celebrities or public lecturers. However, on the few occasions I have set my eyes on him or read about him in the media, he seems to always be walking or standing in front of, behind or beside one Michael Ranneberger, the US Ambassador to Kenya. I think Ambassador Ranneberger has been so conspicuous in Ambassador Lindner mission in Kenya that we have little to celebrate of him (the latter).
One would say that the US and Germany share common interest in Kenya and East Africa. True! Still that does not justify Ambassador Lindner implicitly working under his US counterpart. It seems to me that Ambassador Ranneberger has simply been using Ambassador Lindner as a support to his agenda to Kenya, to show that there's always somebody backing him/seconding his message. That is objectifying.
As regards, even though Ambassador Lindner could have been a great diplomat, I will remember him simply as the Ambassador with very long hair and an ardent supporter of Ambassador Ranneberger.
Bye Lindner! Bon Voyage!
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