Letter to the American Ambassandor in Kenya

January 25, 2007

Honorable Michael E. Ranneberger
Ambassador
Embassy of the United States of America
Nairobi, Kenya

Dear Ambassador Ranneberger:

Thank you very much for receiving me and Mr. Njorge earlier this week. I am gratified by your interest in helping us in exploring ways we may better serve those in need. I gave you information about the community of Kaswesha. Since that time I visited the community and met with the people. I believe this is a place where a national or even a continent wide model can be explored.

I met with Mr. Peter Kibnda, Director of City Planning, for the city of Nairobi, a copy of a letter sent to him is attached. I toured the Kariobangi Community, the larger adjoining community to Kaswesha, the conditions there are intolerable but the spirit of the people is optimistic. How much longer will this spirit persist? I have observed the evolution of the dynamic of optimism fade into a sense of hopelessness and despair. A search for alternatives to pain and a lack of control of what happens to ones family and community is a natural response of the human personality.

We are becoming accustomed to phrases like, “a breeding ground for terrorist,” we should by now understand that “one man’s terrorist is another’s freedom fighter!” History continues to illustrate to us that there is no substitute for “self determination” that resonate from each human soul.

I believe that it is timely that our Nation now more fully appreciates the importance of Africa to our “national security,” and is now establishing a military command headquarters in Africa. As we discussed, this new “command,” is a work in progress. It suggests that it will have a “humanitarian focus.” One that will proactively identify a region that needs attention, and respond to the needs of that region. I believe there is an opportunity here in the Nairobi area to establish a “demonstration model” that can be replicated throughout Africa!

It must be predicated on a premise of partnership and not one that is viewed as exploitative! I shared with you my involvement with the people of Cameroon with respect to the discovery of nickel and cobalt in that nation. These mineral will drive the global technological economies into the foreseeable future. It may well have been the routine way of doing business in the past when an American entity can enter Africa and fashion a “deal,” not a “partnership,” that gives the American entity 50% plus ownership – in the case of Cameroon – the American ownership is 69.5%! This is morally reprehensible and bodes dire consequences for the future.

As an expert on Africa no one is in a better position than you to provide insight/s and directions in fashioning a “new Africa policy.” I believe that if we immediately embark upon a cooperative effort of building decent housing for the resident of Kaswesha it will illustrate our resolve to act. It is noteworthy that this community has won international acclaim by being chosen as the winner of the 2006 Cityscape/Architectural Review Award.

As we discussed, I will be pursuing ways to honor the surviving members of the “dreaded mau mau,” those brave men who fought for the liberation of this nation. I was especially moved when one of these men, who were honored at the World Social Forum, no longer “mau mau” – terrorist, but now “freedom fighters” who stated at a reception held at the Stanley Hotel, (where I am staying while in Nairobi) that “he never envisioned the day that he could enter the building as a guest.” It was meaningful to me because I have lived that same experience, when I could not enter the hotels in the United States as a guest! I know that some of the circumstances are different, but the impact is the same! In the United States it was based on race, here it seems to be a “class or economic issue.” It would be especially meaningful if your office could join with me in a partnership to make possible such recognition.

I will forward to you a copy of a complaint filed by Mr. Njorge some time ago regarding his difficulty in securing a visa to traveling to a conference in Canada and on another occasion to the United States. He was denied based on the fact that he was “poor” did not have a “bank account.” I dealt with a similar incidents in Uganda when a “princess from the Kingdom of Toro, with a sizeable bank account, good job, and no reason to desire to remain in the United States, was denied!

I believe that national origin is playing into these decisions, which in our experience is also racial. Can these processes be reviewed? It is especially burdensome upon many people who apply multiple times with negative results and the processing fees are not refunded.

I shared with you the revolutionary building technique perfected by Mr. Alex Stein of Switzland, www.tronco-system.com. This technique, I believe, would be suitable for consideration in improving the living conditions of the brave people of Kaswesha. Such a demonstration project, if proven successful, could be adapted to improve conditions of the 1 million people in the city of Nairobi, and transported to communities throughout Africa.

Nairobi will serve as host for UN- Governing Council, on April 16-20, 2007. It is my hope that by that time initial plans can be underway to bring to fruition better living conditions for the people of Kaswesha. I believe it would be appropriate and fitting for our Nation to play a key role in this endeavor.

Vice Consul Jason Meeks provided me with a list of multi-national corporations based in the United States that is doing business in Kenya. I trust that you will join me in championing the notion to the business community that an investment in the people will bring great dividends for the future.

Thank you very much for your hospitality, and I look forward to keeping in touch with you.

Sincerely,

Joe Beasley