Foreign and Diaspora Affairs CS Alfred Mutua has continued with Kenya’s onslaught on the United Nations for its criticism of the country over alleged police brutality to quell demos.
In a rejoinder on Wednesday, CS Mutua labeled the UN statement as inaccurate and misleading propaganda designed to deny Kenyans their democratic freedom.
Dr Mutua has discounted the claims by UN Human Rights Office Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence of police brutality and killing of 23 during anti-government protests in Kenya.
“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,” stated Dr Mutua.
The CS intimated that Kenya, through the Foreign Affairs Ministry, had already contacted the UN Human Rights Office to express her protest over the statement shared on July 14.
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“The Ministry has protested to the office of the Spokesperson on his unsubstantiated statement. 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 indicated.
He faulted the UN Human Rights Office for failing to recognise that the violence and destruction of property during the opposition demos were allegedly politically instigated.
“These violent actions by a few paid goons have been politically instigated by known architects of violence and therefore cannot be categorized as peaceful assembly as alleged by the spokesperson,” he averred.
He challenged the UN body not to turn a blind eye to violent attacks witnessed during the anti-government demos and their adverse effects on members of the public and property.
“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.
“Why is the UN Human Right Spokesperson blind to all these? Is that office fallen prey to propaganda and being used to lay ground for a smear campaign?”
He further urged the international community to check its facts on the happenings in Kenya and also consider taking punitive actions against those behind the cost of living protests.
“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,” Dr Mutua proceeded.
In his statement on July 14, UN Human Rights Office Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence criticized escalating chaos and claims of use of force by police during opposition demos.
He demanded a probe into the allegations indicating that reports show that up to 23 Kenyans have been killed and many more wounded during the said demos in the last week.
