Ringera: Kenya protests at US Kibaki criticism

• Foreign Affairs Ministry says US statement is objectionable and in bad taste.
• Wetangula says US has broken the Diplomatic Code as stipulated in the Vienna Convention by commenting on the matter.

Kenya has protested at a US statement issued on Thursday questioning the reappointment of Justice Aaron Ringera as head of the country’s anti-corruption body.

US Ambassador Michael Ranneberger had on Thursday said the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission had performed badly in the five years of its existence with Justice Ringera as director and faulted President Kibaki for reappointing him.

In a letter dated the same day, Foreign Affairs minister Moses Wetangula said the Kenyan Government "considers the statement objectionable, in bad taste and an affront to the Head of State to whom it is accredited in appointing Justice Ringera as Director of the KACC."

"The ministry further takes great exception to the tone of the Embassy’s statement which casts aspersions on the Government’s commitment to fight corruption and end impunity,” said Mr Wetangula in the two-page letter.

The embassy had said in its statement that gauging by the negative public reaction to the reappointment, Kenyans have very little confidence in the anti-corruption body established in 2004.

The government, however, told the Americans to "desist from offering unsolicited, unwarranted and misplaced advice on the affairs of the running of the country."

"The embassy has no locus standi -the right to be heard- to comment on the reappointment of Justice Ringera," said Mr Wetangula.

"In this regard, the ministry expects the US embassy to uphold the dignity and decorum befitting the stature and privileged position of a diplomatic mission," he added.

He added that by commenting on the matter, the embassy had broken the Diplomatic Code as stipulated in the Vienna Convention, which stipulates relations between countries according to customary international law. 

KACC was among the first institutions created by the Narc administration after it came into power in 2003 on the promise of a new beginning and a reform of the country’s laws and political culture.

The letter was written on the same day Justice minister Mutula Kilonzo told foreign envoys to “shut up” and steer clear of Kenya’s internal affairs.

Speaking at the weekly Press briefing held by Government Spokesman Alfred Mutua at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre, Mr Kilonzo said foreign diplomats "have no responsibility or business interpreting the law for us."

Justice Ringera’s re-appointment has set off a storm of protest by civil society groups, a section of MPs.

Ministers James Orengo and Anyang’ Nyong’o as well as assistant ministers Omingo Magara, Josephat Nanok, Sospeter Ojaamong’ and Elizabeth Ongoro as well as joint government whip Jakoyo Midiwo have also broken ranks with the government to oppose President Kibaki’s decision.

Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta has also been forced to withdraw the Appropriations Bill after MPs came up with a plan to freeze KACC funds by withdrawing its vote from the Bill.