Raila slams US ambassador to Kenya
Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance leader Raila Odinga has expressed his frustrations with US ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman.
Speaking on Friday, March 31, 2023, in Gem, Siaya county during the funeral of late scholar Mama Grace Akech Onyango, Raila faulted the US ambassador over comments she made at a business summit in Nairobi.
Raila was rattled by the comment Whitman made about the August 9, 2022, General Election while she was speaking at the American Chamber of Commerce Regional Business Summit which was held in Nairobi days ago.
The Azimio leader accused the American diplomat of having the audacity to misrepresent facts in Kenya.
"And most of them even have the audacity to misrepresent facts in our country. Like the American ambassador yesterday addressed American businessmen saying that Kenya in last year August did the most transparent democratic election in the history of Kenya," Raila said.
The Azimio leader added that he missed the American ambassador to Kenya in person after she made the comment about last year's election.
"I told her I didn't know which country she was talking about. I didn't know which Kenya she was talking about," he said.
Raila further accused the diplomatic community of turning a blind eye to violations of fundamental human rights in Kenya.
"We are so surprised to see these diplomats completely turning a blind eye to violations of fundamental human rights in Kenya in the name of development," he said.
Raila's criticism of the diplomatic corps comes even as the US ambassador to Kenya early Friday morning March 31, 2023, expressed concerns about attacks on journalists covering Azimio protests on Thursday.
"The United States is deeply concerned by recent reports of attacks against journalists. Protecting press freedom and safety is a cornerstone of democracy," the US ambassador to Kenya tweeted.
The United States is deeply concerned by recent reports of attacks against journalists. Protecting press freedom and safety is a cornerstone of democracy.— U.S. Ambassador Meg Whitman (@USAmbKenya) March 31, 2023
Some members of the diplomatic corps in a joint communique on March 29, 2023, called on Kenyan leaders to maintain peace, show restraint, and work toward a swift resolution for the common good of Kenya.
Statement by the IC on the recent violence pic.twitter.com/m71ES897F5— Ole Thonke 🇩🇰 (@DKambKenya) March 29, 2023
