National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi on Monday, October 7, accused the US of apparent association with the Al-Shabaab terror group.
Reports by The Standard indicated that the Muturi's claims were drawn from sustained lobbying by American pressure groups to prevent the classification of the Al-Shabaab as a terrorist group.
"The recent decision by the US to refuse to declare Al-Shabaab a terrorist group ensures the group becomes a recipient of global finance," stated Muturi.
He further alleged that Al-Shabaab was enjoying funding from undisclosed global superpowers disguised as humanitarian groups.
This came after Kenya tabled a proposal in the United Nations to have the group listed as a terrorist group.
However, the UN Security Council on Wednesday, August 28 rejected Kenya’s request to designate Al-Shabaab a terror group under Resolution 1267, which includes groups like Al Qaeda, Taliban, and ISIL.
The move received strong lobbying by US humanitarian agencies and former diplomats who said such designation would “criminalise humanitarian aid.”
US Ambassador Kyle McCarter, however, dismissed speaker Muturi's claims arguing that the "US declared Al-Shabaab a terrorist group and it would use everything within the UN resolution to fight the group."
