Rogue Ambassador: An African Memoir [Hardcover]

Smith Hempstone (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 362 pages
• Publisher: Univ of the South Pr (December 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0918769396
• ISBN-13: 978-0918769398
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,951,848 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Truth Uncovered, August 1, 2001

By 

Thuo wa Gakuru (Gaza Strip, Palestine) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rogue Ambassador: An African Memoir (Hardcover)

The book offers another dimension in this brutal killing that shocked the world. It sheds light on the power play that exists in Moi's evil government machinery that is willing to do anything to perpetuate the evil empire. This unbiased account is one that every Kenyan and friends of Kenya should read as we prepare for the inevitable homecoming of all children of the Kenyan Diaspora. Though a foregone conclusion, the fact that we need a government that respects its citizens and understands its mandate remains a recurring theme. "Building the New Kenya" is and should be our motto !

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A struggle half done to free a people from tyranical rule, March 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Rogue Ambassador: An African Memoir (Hardcover)

A good book.Tells of the aspirations of a people burried in tyranny-and their struggle to overcome it.The author tried his part and Kenyan people are grateful to him.The book is a must for anybody who would like to know the temperament for Kenya in the search for evasive political reforms.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Okay..., November 7, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Rogue Ambassador: An African Memoir (Paperback)

Overall i think the book is a good read. Hempstone does a good job of telling the times as the they were during his term in office in Kenya. Some of the things maybe slightly exaggerated but i think the important thing is that it tells what was in our minds during this time but we as kenyans were unable to say. He also does an excellent job of describing Moi; dictator, vicious, illiterate, corrupt etc. (probably would explain why Moi is suing him)
There were several things that i didn't like about the book. Everytime Hempstone mentions a person he has to tell us what tribe that person belongs to...urrrgh....if there could be a reason for banning this book in kenya..this would be it! The other thing i noticed was that Hempstone does an amazing job of making himself look good in the book. The book is filled with notes of important people or not praising him for this or that....it struck me as very self promoting. Some of the stuff about locals was absolutely untrue. For example...at one pt he says the Samburu are know to diet on meat, milk and urine like the maasai. The urine part is an outright lie, i say this a maasai born + bred deep in maasai land...maasai do not drink urine...yaaak....blood we drink urine is a no-no!
The last and minor thing is the endless repeatations in the book. Several statements are repeated over + over again through the book...i got the impression that maybe a pt was being drum into my head.
Nevertheless, this book gives an interesting insite into the political issues in kenya as well as most likely alot of the other african countries. I was kind of disappointed that the book didn't go more into depth on the sudan crisis --- that region of africa needs serious help!