In a bid to address the simmering tensions over oil imports between Kenya and Uganda, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda extended an invitation to his Kenyan counterpart, William Ruto. The meeting, aimed at bolstering diplomatic ties within the East African Community (EAC), took an unexpected turn when Ruto, seeking to quell the conflict, called upon opposition leader Raila Odinga to join the discussion.
How Raila Odinga came to the picture
In a bid to navigate through the burgeoning conflict, William Ruto sought the intervention of opposition leader Raila Odinga, recognizing his potential to broker a resolution. Raila, leader of the Azimio movement, was thus drawn into the diplomatic fray, leveraging his influence to mediate the differences between President Ruto and President Museveni regarding the contentious oil imports.
The pivotal meeting took place at President Museveni’s pastoral retreat in Kikozi farm on a significant Monday, February 26. Reports from NTV Kenya shed light on the context of the gathering, revealing Museveni’s initial intent to foster deeper regional integration and fortify diplomatic ties between Nairobi and Kampala. However, the conversation swiftly shifted towards the pressing issue of oil importation, underscoring the gravity of the dispute.
The roots of the conflict trace back to Kenya’s decision to withhold access to its oil pipeline from the Uganda National Oil Company following its oil import credit agreement with entities in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. This move, aimed at securing favourable oil import terms for Kenya, inadvertently strained its relationship with Uganda, prompting the latter to explore alternative routes for oil imports, such as the Dar es Salaam port in Tanzania.
Uganda’s Energy Minister, Ruth Nankabirwa, lamented the repercussions of the dispute, highlighting the adverse impact on the country’s oil marketers and the resultant surge in retail pump prices. The vulnerability exposed by disruptions in oil supply underscored the urgency of resolving the impasse between the two nations.
Raila Odinga’s involvement injects a new dimension into the diplomatic discourse, signalling a commitment to fostering collaboration and harmony within the EAC. As discussions unfold and efforts towards reconciliation intensify, the region watches with bated breath, hopeful for a resolution that preserves mutual interests and fosters enduring diplomatic ties.
