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Odinga Condemns Murkomen’s Comments on Rwanda, Apologizes
Azimio La Umoja Coalition Party Leader Raila Odinga Tuesday condemned remarks made by Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen that appeared to criticize Rwanda’s governance style.
Murkomen, speaking on Citizen TV’s Monday Report show, said that Kenya should 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,” Murkomen said.
“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,” Murkomen added.
Odinga, in a statement on Tuesday, termed the remarks as unfortunate and accused Murkomen 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 neighbouring member of the East African Community. Statecraft and diplomacy require a different and more sophisticated etiquette beyond expensive watches, suits and walking sticks,” Odinga said.
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.
“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 on the sins of a regime intoxicated by power and corruption,” Odinga added.
Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei lauded Rwandan President Paul Kagame as an “iconic leader” worthy of international admiration, praising his “bold leadership.” This came on the heels of a controversial statement by Murkomen.
Nairobi lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi called for “urgent workshops” for government officials to grasp the “basic tenets of the comity of nations.” He condemned Murkomen’s “unprovoked attack” on a friendly state and questioned his right to “disparage President Paul Kagame.”
Abdullahi argued that Kenyan officials needed a crash course on the “responsibilities” associated with their high-ranking positions, warning that continued misstatements could turn Kenya into an “international pariah.”
Tuesday, Murkomen responded to Abdullahi on X, seemingly to apologize to his earlier remarks. “My friend Ahmednasir I have expressed my admiration for Rwanda’s style of leadership which has made it possible for them to build good infrastructure including a new airport and enforce discipline & order on their roads. It’s not just Rwanda, countries like UAE, Morocco, Saudi Arabia among others have a style of leadership that has delivered great success to their people because their leaders have the power to make firm decisions,” Murkomen posted.
All Police on Leave Recalled To Beef Up Security Over Christmas
In a bid to curb the rising tide of road accidents during the festive season, Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome Wednesday issued a stern call to all Kenyans, recalling all police officers on leave and urging utmost caution on the roads.
With heavy El Nino rains adding to the usual holiday traffic congestion, Koome expressed deep concern over the increasing number of crashes, attributing them to a combination of factors like reckless driving, poor visibility due to rain, and disregard for traffic rules.
“We are entering a period of high travel volume,” he stated. “The El Nino rains further complicate matters, reducing visibility and making driving conditions more treacherous. We must all be extra cautious to avoid tragedies.”
Koome highlighted specific concerns: defective vehicles, unbuckled seat belts, speeding, fatigue, drunk driving, and dangerous overtaking. He urged everyone, from motorists and pedestrians to cyclists and passengers, to prioritize safety and follow the law.
The National Police Service, he assured, will be vigilant, collaborating with the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to enforce regulations and tackle corruption on the roads.
Koome announced the immediate resumption of duty for all police officers currently on leave. “Increased police presence on the roads will deter reckless behaviour and ensure swift response to emergencies,” he explained.
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