'She stated facts!' Mutua defends US Ambassador Meg Whitman, dismisses Raila's threat

In a statement issued on Thursday, Mutua termed Whitman’s comments as “forthright and honest”, adding that “she stated facts.”

“The Kenyan Government welcomes the forthright and honest comments that the @USAmbKenya made on the positive strides that Kenya has made in the last one year. She stated facts and paid tribute to the democratic way our constitutional institutions oversaw a credible electoral process that has set Kenya on a transformative path,” said Mutua.

Ambassador Whitman, while speaking at the opening of the same Devolution Conference on Wednesday, opined that the 2022 polls affirmed Kenya’s position as the most democratic State in the continent.

She said: “I arrived in Kenya days before the August 2022 General Election, and what I witnessed was nothing short of remarkable. Kenya held, what many analysts and commentators say, was the free-est, fairest and most credible election in Kenyan history.”

In response, Mr. Odinga, while addressing the Devolution Conference in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County on Thursday, chastised Whitman for what he termed as meddling in Kenya’s affairs.

“I want to tell the rogue ambassador, leave Kenyans alone. If maandamano can lead to dialogue between Ichung’wah and Kalonzo, everything is good with maandamano,” Odinga stated.

He went on to state that if Whitman continues to comment on Kenyan issues, then the opposition political faction may be forced to petition the US government to recall her.

Foreign Affairs CS Mutua has however downplayed Odinga’s threat of having the US Ambassador recalled.

“We value our development partners and members of the Diplomatic corps should not feel threatened or intimidated by unwarranted threats. If Kenya has a problem with any diplomat or country, it is the work of the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs to summon and seek clarification. It is only the Government of Kenya that can seek the recalling of an envoy,” noted Mutua.

He added: “As a Government, we will work with those attuned to the transformational plan and welcome our partners who can see that Kenya is moving in the right direction.”