A presidential delegation raised concerns about the mysterious death of Irish missionary Brother Larry Timmons with Kenyan president Daniel arap Moi yesterday. It was raised on the final day of the President, Mrs McAleese's tour of east Africa.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ms Liz O'Donnell, who is accompanying the President, expressed concern about the lack of progress on the case during a courtesy call to President Moi at State House in Nairobi. Brother Timmons was shot dead by police outside his home in 1997, following an apparent burglary.
The Westmeath man had earlier clashed with local authorities in the politically sensitive Rift Valley area over concerns of irregularities in voter registration. A policeman was subsequently charged with his murder but has not yet been brought to trial.
"We wanted some closure on the case, especially for the sake of the family," said Ms O'Donnell. The President and her husband have been travelling around Kenya and Uganda to pay tribute to the work of Irish missionaries. Yesterday they visited a school run by the Sisters of Mercy in the Lunga Lunga slum area in Nairobi.
Like many such projects, it has survived almost entirely thanks to private donations. Two classrooms were paid for by parishes in Ballinrobe, Co Mayo, while businessman Mr Denis O'Brien recently contributed £56,000 to save a primary school.
The president later visited the Mutomo Mission Hospital in Kitui district. Just hours before her arrival, Nzembi Syengo had just given birth to twin girls. The 38-year-old mother said she would name them Mary and Liz after her Irish visitors. President McAleese has received a rapturous welcome at remote mission stations. She frequently praised the missionaries, both Catholic and Protestant, as "Ireland's greatest unpaid ambassadors".
The trip also highlighted the gulf in the Government's attitude to the Ugandan and Kenyan governments. Uganda is one of six priority beneficiaries of Government funding, receiving £19 million this year and a projected £28 million next year.
President Yoweri Museveni has been a favourite of western donors thanks to a record of strong economic growth and progressive policies in health and education.
There have been concerns, however, about his involvement in the Congo war and recent tensions with the once-friendly neighbour, Rwanda. In contrast, Kenya has received just £650,000 this year from the Government, mostly channelled through missionaries and aid agencies.
Foreign donors are reluctant to engage with the Kenyan government due to its reputation for corruption and mismanagement. During yesterday's meeting, President Moi praised the work of Irish missionaries in Kenya but said they should "steer clear of politics". Mrs McAleese is leaving Kenya this morning and is due to arrive in Dublin this evening.
The trip has been relatively expensive - due to problems with the government jet, the presidential party travelled to Africa in a chartered Boeing jet that cost £300,000, according to one report. The trip also necessitated hiring several small aircraft and helicopters in both countries.