President Uhuru Kenyatta has condemned two separate attacks believed to be assassination attempts on a Zimbabwean President Emerson Mnangagwa and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
In Zimbabwe, a heinous attack occurred during a ZANU-PF rally when Mnangagwa was addressing the masses. Several people were injured including Zimbabwe's First Vice President Constantino Chiwenga and Second Vice President Kembo Mohadi.
President Kenyatta offered his message of goodwill to the President and the people of Zimbabwe and termed the attack as an affront on democracy by misguided elements out to subvert the free will of the peace-loving people of the Southern Africa nation.
Watch video: the moment of explosion that #Zimbabwe President Emmerson #Mnangagwa survived in #bulawayo Stadium in #Harare today. explosion was very close to the president. #Africa pic.twitter.com/ufwqVmfTv4
— Mogadishu Update (@Magdashi3) June 23, 2018
"As a long-standing friend of Zimbabwe, Kenya sends its message of goodwill to President Emerson Mnangagwa and the people of the Republic of Zimbabwe, and urges restraint during the campaign and electioneering period because political competition should not fracture Zimbabweans but should be a measure to deepen their democratic credentials," the President noted.
#MnangagwaBomb White City Stadium in Bulawayo after explosion at Zanu PF rally - 23 June 2018 #Zimbabwe #ZimElections2018 #Mnangagwa #ZanuPF #Bulawayo pic.twitter.com/ZyX3qBZi1I
— Povo News (@povonewsafrica) June 23, 2018
The President further warned against the use of premeditated violence as a tool for political canvassing.
[caption caption="The scenes of the explosion at White City Stadium in Zimbabwe"]
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"As I condemn the attack unreservedly, I also call against the use of violence as a tool for intimidating citizens from exercising their political choices," Uhuru added.
He further sent his condolences to the Ethiopian Prime Minister after an attempt to hurl a grenade at Abiy in Addis Ababa. Several people were killed in the attack.
President Kenyatta termed the attack as 'cowardly and outrageous' assuring that Kenya stood with Ethiopia during this time.
"We stand with you, Prime Minister, and the people of Ethiopia against these cowardly people. We will never bow to those who carry out these heinous acts," President Kenyatta added.
The President further noted that the character of our two nations is bound by a timeless bond of friendship that the perverse ideologues of extremist networks can never break.
Update: A footage from Ethiopian News agency shows PM #AbiyAhmed whisked away by his security detail. A faint sound of explosion can be heard over the MC who was thanking those Ethiopians watching the program from abroad. The crowd is dispersing and no further alert as of now. pic.twitter.com/Ls0n6oPWIs
— Addis Standard (@addisstandard) June 23, 2018
President Kenyatta urged Prime Minister Abiy to continue the task of uniting the Ethiopian people, ensuring the stability of the country and sustained the growth of its economy.
A senior Ethiopian police officer and either other have since been arrested since the attack.
[caption caption="The explosion in Addis Ababa occurred shortly after PM Abiy Ahmed finished his speech and the MC was introducing a "short program to follow". "]
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