US Envoy’s Remarks at Devolution Conference Irk Azimio Senators

Opposition Azimio senators are calling for an apology from US envoy Meg Whitman due to her remarks made at Kenya’s ongoing devolution conference regarding the country’s democracy and economy.

Senators Moses Kajwang (Homa Bay), Enoch Wambua (Kitui), and Oboru Odinga (Siaya) find it unfortunate that the envoy addressed internal matters while ignoring the actual state of the country.

During the conference, the envoy commented on the 2022 elections, ongoing tax protests, and Kenya’s corruption.

She described the 2022 elections as free, fair, and credible, and praised Kenya’s progress in combating corruption, comparing it to countries like India and Venezuela.

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Senator Wambua, reading the Azimio statement, expressed surprise at the envoy’s remarks. They accused her of glorifying the actions of the Kenya Kwanza administration.

He noted that the envoy seemed to downplay the country’s situation and present Kenya as democratic, despite their belief that President Ruto’s regime is moving towards dictatorship.

The senators stated that the election matter is sensitive and central to street protests, leading to bi-partisan discussions between Azimio and Kenya Kwanza.

They highlighted that the elections are still pending, with Azimio demanding access to the servers used in the presidential polls.

Wambua demanded an explanation from the envoy and hoped her remarks were personal and not the official stance of the US government. He criticized her lack of awareness, particularly regarding taxes, accusing her of being detached from the situation on the ground.

Kajwang criticized the envoy’s focus on business continuity over the lives of Kenyan citizens. The senators emphasized that recent protests against high living costs had led to deaths, and they believed the envoy should have highlighted the importance of respecting the rule of law and human rights.

They concluded by demanding an apology from the envoy, asserting that her comments openly disregarded the true state of the country.