Raila apologises to Rwanda over CS Murkomen ‘undiplomatic’ remarks

On Monday, Transport Cabinet Secretary, Kipchumba Murkomen, made controversial remarks characterising Rwanda as an autocracy, asserting that whatever the President says becomes law. These statements prompted an apology from Azimio leader Raila Odinga, who deemed the language used as 'undiplomatic.' In a subsequent statement, Raila acknowledged the regrettable nature of the comments and extended an apology to the people of Rwanda. He stressed that the size of a nation is not its defining factor, but rather its vision and leadership.

Raila stressed the importance of a more sophisticated etiquette in statecraft and diplomacy, expressing concern about the perceived recklessness of the Kenya Kwanza regime on the global stage. The Azimio leader foresaw potential consequences for the country due to this approach.

Pressure mounted on Murkomen to issue a direct apology to Rwanda for his remarks. Murkomen defended his comments, stating that the political situation in Rwanda and the size of the country cannot be compared to Kenya's democracy.

Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary, Korir Sing’oei, responded to Murkomen's remarks, praising Rwandan President Paul Kagame as an iconic leader with admired bold leadership. Sing’oei highlighted the uniqueness of each East African Community country's democratic praxis, celebrating the diversity of expressions and institutional arrangements within the region.

Following his television appearance, Murkomen took to social media to express admiration for Rwanda’s style of leadership, citing their successful infrastructure development, a new airport, and effective enforcement of discipline on the roads. He also drew parallels with other nations like the UAE, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia, commending their leadership styles for delivering success to their people through decisive decision-making.