Azimio criticizes US for meddling in Kenya’s political affairs
A segment of Azimio legislators aligned with opposition leader Raila Odinga criticized US Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman’s assertion that the 2022 presidential election was free and fair.
The legislators, led by Senator Oburu Odinga of Siaya, took offense to the ambassador’s remarks, claiming that Kenya’s electoral system is profoundly flawed and deeming her remarks insensitive.
During a press conference, Senator Moses Kajwang of Homa Bay emphasized that the Ambassador’s remarks are detrimental to the ongoing bipartisan discussions aimed at resolving the political dispute between Azimio and Kenya Kwanza.
“The discussions are based on three topics Ambassador Whitman discussed in a very insensitive manner. “The first was on electoral justice, the second on the Finance Act of 2023, and the third on corruption,” Kajwang stated.
“The Azimio team tasked with negotiating has been instructed to place these three issues on the table, and I am aware that once both houses of Parliament adopt the pertinent motions, the next step will be to agree on and outline the agenda items. We would not want our foreign friends and allies to participate in domestic dialogues, he continued.
Senator Oburu Odinga of Siaya argued that it is insensitive for the US Ambassador to discuss Kenyan democracy at a time when the two major political parties are at odds over pertinent issues.
“I believe it is insensitive for the US Ambassador to discuss democracy in Kenya when this regime has delegitimized the Kenyan people’s right to demonstrate, picket, and convene.
“This is a constitutionally protected right that was borrowed from the American constitution, and I was deeply offended when the US Ambassador danced and praised democracy in Kenya while these rights were being criminalized,” Oburu charged.
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At the same press conference, Senator Enoch Wambua of Kitui urged foreign powers to stay out of Kenyan politics.
The lawmaker joked, “We expect our foreign allies, and the United States in particular, to be sensitive, mature, and to refrain from making statements that are likely to erode the small amount of trust that we are building for the sake of our country.”
Away from the press conference, Rarieda Member of Parliament Otiende Amollo unleashed a scathing attack on the envoy, accusing her of prioritizing economic advantages for her country over democratic principles.
“For her, commerce is more important than democracy. The Rarieda member of parliament asserted in a statement that business is their sole concern.
The Legislators were also perplexed as to why President William Ruto requested a standing ovation for Whitman at the ongoing 8th Devolution Conference on Wednesday, August 16.
Ambassador Whitman stated at the event that the elections demonstrated how democratic Kenya is.
She commended the nation’s efforts to hold credible, transparent, and verifiable elections.
She stated, “According to numerous analysts and commentators, Kenya held the freest, fairest, and most credible election in Kenyan history.”
Whitman’s comments were made at a time when the Kenya Kwanza Administration and Azimio are engaged in bipartisan discussions to resolve political differences, including the results of the presidential election from the previous year.
Azimio criticizes US for meddling in Kenya’s political affairs