Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta has condemned the launch of a political and military alliance against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Uhuru’s office in a statement on Monday, December 18 said the former Head of State was shocked to watch the developments happen in Nairobi on Friday last week.
“Former President Uhuru Kenyatta, the Facilitator of the East African Community (EAC) led Nairobi Peace process, watched with shock and dismay at the developments of last Friday, the 15th of December 2023 in Nairobi, where individuals claiming to be pursuing the interest of greater peace and stability in the DRC initiated yet another political and military Alliance to challenge the legitimate political status quo in the DRC,” the statement read in part.
Uhuru refused to accept the rebel organization in particular their military character, and the accompanying politically charged and provocative rhetoric.
He maintained his support for the ceasefire in DRC that was brokered by the US government.
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“President (Rtd) Kenyatta restates his support for the US-brokered ceasefire and continues to seek its indefinite extension in order to facilitate the peace-building process, put an end to the senseless killing and suffering of the people of the eastern DRC, and set the stage for a resumption of the Nairobi peace process, and the brokering of a lasting peace in the troubled region of the eastern DRC,” the statement added.
Uhuru has been leading peace talks in DRC in his capacity as the EAC-Facilitator of the EAC-led Nairobi Process on Restoration of Peace and Security in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and the AU-Kenya Peace Envoy.
His statement comes after DRC politicians and groups including the M23 rebels who have seized territory in eastern DRC and Corneille Nangaa, a former Congo election commission chief launched the Congo River Alliance in Nairobi.
The launch sparked diplomatic tension between Nairobi and Kinshasa with DRC recalling its ambassador to Kenya and summoning the Kenyan embassy's head of mission.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi in a statement on Sunday that by virtue of the presser by the group being held in Kenya's capital, concerned quarters might mistake the Kenyan government for supporting the group's undertakings.
He clarified that the individuals leveraged Kenya's freedom of expression and association with the press.
"The Ministry wishes to note that Kenya is an open and democratic state where freedom of the press is vouchsafed. As such, nationals and non-nationals may engage the Kenyan media without reference to the government. Kenya strongly disassociates itself from any utterances or activities likely to injure the peace and security of the friendly Nation of DRC," the statement read in part.
While weighing in on the issue, President William Ruto revealed that some DRC officers wanted Kenya to arrest the individuals behind the Congo River Alliance launch but he declined the request.
"DRC wanted to know if we could arrest the people who released the statement but we said we cannot. We only arrest criminals and deal with them but not issuing statements.
"Statements are issued almost every day against me but I never arrested anyone. That is undemocratic,that is not how Kenya is, we are different," Ruto stated.
