Kenya is peaceful, Mutua tell UN Human Rights

Foreign affairs CS Dr Alred Mutua flanked by officials from the ministry during the press briefing. [Courtesy, Dr Alfred Mutua]

Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Cabinet Secretary Dr Alfred Mutua has faulted the Secretary of the Office of United Nations Human Rights over allegations that last week's demonstrations in Kenya were violent.

"This statement was not only inaccurate but misleading and appeared to have been written in support of a propaganda campaign by people opposed to the democratic will of the people," said Mutua.

He was speaking on Wednesday at Foreign Affairs headquarters in Nairobi.

While protesting against OHCHR, Mutua said the ministry will do what is within its mandate to maintain the country's foreign relations.

"We will be engaging through appropriate channels to ensure that the international community is not sucked into conspiracies that are aimed at destablising our nation," he said.

On July 19, 2023, the Spokesperson of OHCHR in Geneva Jeremy Laurance issued a statement of their concern on anti-government protests in Kenya.

In the statement, the UN Human Rights Office said they are "very concerned by the widespread violence, and allegations of unnecessary or disproportionate use of force, including the use of firearms, by police during protests in Kenya."

UN called for investigations into last Wednesday's protests aftermaths even as it called for open dialogue to end the demonstrations.

Mutua said the violence witnessed during demonstrations was orchestrated by paid gangs to terrorise innocent members of the public.

"These violent demonstrators have attacked innocent members of the public, looted and destroyed private property, attacked and injured police officers who were on duty to ensure law and order," said Dr Mutua

According to Mutua, the opposition demonstrations are only geared towards distracting the Kenya Kwanza government from delivering on its bottom-up economic agenda.

He said the government plans to consult the international community to consider sanctioning opposition leaders for perpetrating violence and sabotaging the operations of the country.

"We also urge our international friends to closely scrutinize the architects of insurrection and anti-democratic elements when they wish to visit their countries and not to allow some of them to go and taint their democratic principles," he stated.

Dr Mutua said the country is expecting to host more state and official visits as many heads of state have shown interest in establishing formidable bilateral ties with Kenya.

The Azimio la Umoja coalition party led by Raila Odinga have called on their supporters to stage mass demonstrations in the country starting Wednesday 19 through to Friday 21, July.

According to Azimio, the anti-government mass protests are aimed at pushing President Ruto's administrations to address the high cost of living and abolishment of Finance Act 2023.