Kenyan racialism
Sir: Even by her own standards, Judith Listowel's letter (April 21) whitewashing African tyranny and racialism was pretty breathtaking. She quotes the Kenyan Minister of Commerce as saying that, " British press reports that Kenya might follow in Amin's footsteps " are untrue, As though the word of a politician was holy writ. But it happens that he spoke truer than he (or Judith Listowel) knew. Kenya cannot follow Amin because it preceded him! If she is any doubt about this, I would remind her of an article in the Observer complete with picture showing a main shopping streets in Nairobi with all the shutters down, the once prosperous Asians who owned them having been kicked out This was at least five years before Amin arrived.
She then goes on to give us President Kenyatta's assurance that, "there will be no change in the position of the Asian people. It is true some licences and permits have been withdrawn as a result of which Africans have benefited." So, you take away the livelihood of people who are brown instead of black and there is no change in their position.
Your correspondent should not insult the intelligence of Spectator rea
ders with this spurious nonsense. Incidentally, the whole tenor of her letter gives the impression that whatever we might think of the racialist Amin. Kenya is all right. who would imagfne that this is the same lady who only recently wrote a book whitewashing Amin himself!
Arnold Rose 159 The Vale, London N14
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