By Eliud Mutwiri
eliudedwin.ee@gmail.com
Through a press statement, the foreign affairs Cabinet Secretary who serves as the Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has declared that Kenya distances herself from any utterances or activities that may injure the Democratic Republic of Congo’s peace.
The statement comes two days after Corneille Nangaa, a DRC opposition leader who is also a former DRC electoral body’s chairman, joined forces with several DRC’s rebel movements, including M23 to launch a rebel group dubbed ‘Alliance River Congo’ in a hotel in Nairobi on Friday 15th December.
Nangaa, who lives in exile, claims that the newly formed group intends to restore lasting peace in the DRC although M23 has been linked with unrest in the province of North Kivu in the east of the DRC that erupted after M23 broke their dormancy in late 2021.
“On this day we launch a call for unity for all political, social, and military forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo. We have decided to work together to establish a structured force for the rebuilding of the state and to resolve the root causes of the reckoning conflict to ensure lasting peace in DRC,” said Nangaa as he announced the launch of Alliance River Congo in Nairobi on 15th December.
Nangaa’s statement led to diplomatic tensions between the two member states of the East African community, Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo DRC, as DRC media outlets reported that the Kenyan ambassador to DRC had been summoned over the issue, and yesterday DRC recalled its ambassador to Kenya, John Kalunga.
The statement by Mudavadi that distances Kenya from the Alliance River Congo states, “Kenya strongly disassociates itself from any utterances or activities likely to injure the peace and security of the friendly nation of DRC.”
Although the statement assures Kenyans and non-nationals of the freedom of speech, and that the freedom of the press is guaranteed in Kenya, it affirms that investigations have commenced to identify those behind the Nangaa statement and determine the extent to which the utterances fall outside constitutionally protected speech.
“Kenya further affirms its non-involvement in the internal affairs of DRC and commits to continue supporting the peace, security, and democratic consolidation of the country,” the statement reads in part.
Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi, who on Sunday attended a church service at Friends (Quackers) Church in Amalemba, Kakamega County, and later a fundraiser at West Rift Valley Field SDA church in Nandi County reaffirmed that Kenya has no ill will against the DRC.
“I have released a statement, and I want to add that they know that Kenya has no ill will against them (DRC). Kenya is not involved in anything evil against other nations,” Mudavadi said as he spoke at Friends Church, Amalemba.
Nangaa’s launch of the Alliance River Congo in Nairobi, and the diplomatic rift that ensued following Nangaa’s move come as DRC is set to hold its presidential elections on 20th December. DRC president Felix Tshisekedi intends to secure his office, although Nangaa blames him for problems being encountered in DRC including conflict.
Eliud Mutwiri is a reporter and news anchor at KUTV. He has a bias for political, business, and human-interest stories. Other areas of interest are environment, climate change, and climate action reporting.