Opposition leader Raila Odinga on Thursday, August 17, fired back at US Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman over claims that Kenya held the most free, fair, and credible elections.
Raila in his parting shot while delivering a keynote address at the 2023 Devolution Conference in Eldoret threatened to lobby for the recall of the US ambassador if she doesn’t desist from meddling with the country’s internal affairs.
“Keep your mouth shut while here, otherwise, we will call for your recall back to your country,” the Azimio chief said.
But in a quick rejoinder Kenya Kwanza troops clapped back at Raila asking him to stop threatening the diplomat and focus on the 2027 elections.
The troops led by National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichungwa stated that the former Prime Minister had no jurisdiction whatsoever to have Meg Whitman recalled from the country.
“Now Raila relax. The Ambassador is simply stating the obvious that the elections of 2022 were transparent and fair. Stop threatening her, you can’t recall her from nowhere baba,” Ichungwa said in a Tweet seen by Kivumbi.co.ke.
Ichungwa’s comments were supported by Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika who called on the ODM leader to take a break and refrain from condemning the ambassador.
Kihika described the comments by Raila as unfortunate, even expressing that Whitman was among the most hardworking diplomats in the country and vowed to defend the US Ambassador against the opposition’s threats to have her recalled from Kenya.
“She represents and talks about Kenya more positively and patriotically than many Kenyans. Perhaps it is also time for us to tell him (Raila) to shut up,” Kihika, a vocal critic of the opposition, stated.
