Kenya’s Transport Minister, Kipchumba Murkomen, has ignited controversy by describing Rwanda as an “autocracy” during a live TV interview. The comments were made in response to criticism regarding Kenya’s public transport system compared to its neighbouring country.
Appearing on Citizen TV on Monday night, Murkomen dismissed comparisons between Kenya and Rwanda, stating that Kenya was a democracy with legal processes, while Rwanda operated as an autocracy where “whatever the president says is the law.” He added that every decision in Kenya requires going through a proposal, parliament, and public participation.
The minister’s remarks prompted concerns about potential diplomatic tension between the two East African nations. Social media reactions from Kenyans described Murkomen’s comments as “bar talk” and warned against provoking Rwanda.
In an attempt to mitigate the backlash, Murkomen later mentioned on social media that “autocracy is not a bad thing,” highlighting Rwanda’s system of leadership as empowering the president for positive outcomes.
Rwanda, led by President Paul Kagame since 1994, has faced accusations from rights groups of suppressing opposition voices. Despite criticism, Kagame won the last presidential election with nearly 99% of the vote and could remain in power until 2034.
The Kenyan minister’s comments add to recent diplomatic discussions, as President William Ruto affirmed that Kenya’s relations with neighbouring countries were “perfect.” The controversy follows Murkomen’s recent involvement in addressing a power outage at Nairobi’s main airport.
Kenyan lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi expressed concern on social media, stating that “Minister Murkomen can’t attack a sovereign friendly state without provocation and disparage President Paul Kagame just like that.” While acknowledging diversity of expressions within East African countries, Korir Sing’oei, a senior official in Kenya’s foreign ministry, emphasised that Rwanda is a “key brotherly nation,” and President Kagame’s “bold leadership is admired at home and abroad.”
As reactions unfold, the incident draws attention to the delicate balance required in diplomatic interactions among East African nations.
Kiki Garba
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