‘We Apologise To Rwanda,’ Raila Says As He Condemns Murkomen’s ‘Undiplomatic Language’
Azimio La Umoja Coalition Party Leader Raila Odinga has condemned the controversial remarks made by Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen that appeared to criticize Rwanda’s governance style.
Speaking on Citizen TV’s Monday Report show, Murkomen said Kenya ought not be compared to Rwanda in terms of development, stating that while Nairobi is a democratic nation, Kigali is an autocracy where “whatever the President says is the law.”
“Rwanda is not like Kenya… Rwanda is an autocracy and there whatever the President says is the law.”
“The other day I announced that we want to retest drivers but what happened…people caused chaos, went to court… For every decision you make in this country (Kenya) you must go through a proposal then Parliament then public participation. Then after you go through all the processes you go through the court and that is our country,” said Murkomen.
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In a statement on Tuesday, Odinga termed the remarks by Murkomen as unfortunate, further accusing the CS of using “intemperate and undiplomatic language” against Rwanda.
“Yesterday, we opened another war with Rwanda through a cabinet secretary using intemperate and undiplomatic language against this friendly neighboring member of the East African Community. Statecraft and diplomacy require a different and more sophisticated etiquette beyond expensive watches, suits, and walking sticks,” said Odinga.
The Azimio leader also took issue with Murkomen’s assertion that Rwanda is a small country that only compares to Kajiado County in Kenya hence the high infrastructural development in Kigali.
He added: “The coarse language used against the great country and friendly people of Rwanda is most unfortunate. Rwanda is the size of Switzerland and is actually bigger than Singapore. It is not the size that makes nations but the vision and leadership. To our Rwandese brothers and sisters, we apologize for the sins of a regime intoxicated by power and corruption.”
‘We Apologise To Rwanda,’ Raila Says As He Condemns Murkomen’s ‘Undiplomatic Language’