Government denies soliciting Uhuru congratulatory messages

Government Spokesman Eric Kiraithe addressing journalists in Nairobi on November 23, 2017. PHOTO | COLLINS OMULO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Monica Juma said that the congratulatory messages were coming in on their own, unsolicited.
  • Talk of diplomats and foreign governments holding off on congratulating Kenya has been rife, with the government now openly tweeting and broadcasting any congratulatory messages that come in.

The government has refuted claims that it has been soliciting for congratulatory messages from foreign countries after the Supreme Court upheld the re-election of President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Earlier this week, UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson was the first senior foreign official to congratulate President Kenyatta amid speculation that Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed had solicited congratulations from him.

'INFERIORITY COMPLEX'

During a press briefing on Thursday, government spokesperson Eric Kiraithe laughed off the claims saying that President Kenyatta was duly elected as the President of Kenya and the government is "not suffering from inferiority complex" to warrant soliciting of congratulatory messages.

“There is no reason whatsoever for the government to solicit for congratulatory messages. Even if nobody congratulates then it is immaterial.

“The government of Kenya has no such inferiority complex that makes it want go soliciting for congratulation messages,” said Mr Kiraithe.

Mr Kiraithe said that President Kenyatta had so far received congratulatory messages from over 20 heads of states with a number of them also affirming their earlier messages they had sent after the August 8 election.

'UNSOLICITED'

On Tuesday, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Monica Juma said that the congratulatory messages were coming in on their own, unsolicited.

In fact, she told the Nation, the messages were expected following what she said was an affirmation of the rule of the law through the protracted elections dispute the country went through, with twice having the courts being asked to determine whether President Kenyatta’s election was free and fair.

Talk of diplomats and foreign governments holding off on congratulating Kenya has been rife, with the government now openly tweeting and broadcasting any congratulatory messages that come in.

“Some of you have asked about how many countries have congratulated the President on his re-election. As of Monday, we can confirm that more than 40 countries had done so. The Foreign Ministry will release details in due course. Essentially, these congratulatory messages are normally channelled through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” State House Spokesman Manoah Esipisu told journalists during a press briefing at noon on Tuesday.