Govt Speaks on Rejecting Ukraine's Special Request in Kenya

Photo collage between  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President Uhuru Kenyatta and Russian President Vladimir Putin
Photo collage between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President Uhuru Kenyatta and Russian President Vladimir Putin
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The government has addressed reports that it denied Ukraine government's request to address Members of Parliament and Senators in a joint sitting.

Reports of Kenya snubbing Ukraine's request emerged on Tuesday, April 12, and it was claimed that the address was to be on the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.

However, speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Racheal Omamo stated that she was not aware of the reports.

Omamo's sentiments were echoed by Kenya's Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Ambassador Macharia Kamau who stated that the reports were untrue and misleading.

Former Foreign Affairs CS Raychelle Omamo addressing the annual presidential briefing to the diplomatic corps at State House on March 4, 2021.
Former Foreign Affairs CS Raychelle Omamo addressing the annual presidential briefing to the diplomatic corps at State House on March 4, 2021.
PSCU

"Those reports are lies," the PS stated.

However, Kenyans.co.ke established that the Ukrainian delegation had sent the request to the Omamo-led ministry on Monday, April 11 with a meeting between the two sides slated for later this week.

The reports claimed that Kenya was keen on protecting its relationship with Russia and accepting Ukraine's request would have caused friction between Nairobi and Moscow.

The reports emerged after the Senegalese President, Macky Sall, in a tweet revealed that Ukraine's  President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sought an audience with the Heads of State from Africa.

"I thank President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for his call today. We discussed the impact of the war in Ukraine on the world economy and the need to favor dialogue for a negotiated outcome to the conflict.

"I also noted his request to make a communication to the AU," the President stated.

This came after some African countries including Kenya abstained to take a vote against the suspension of Russia from the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council. Russia was suspended from the council after the proposal was supported by 93 countries. 53 countries abstained.

Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and has seen many countries slam Putin, including a range of sanctions from the US and parts of Europe.

Nairobi opposed Russia's move during a UN Security Council meeting as Kenya's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Martin Kimani stated that the war undermined the sovereignty of Ukraine's borders.

"In our considered view, this action and announcement breach the territorial integrity of Ukraine," he stated.

Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Martin Kimani during a session at the UNSC on Monday night, February 28, 2022.
Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Martin Kimani during a session at the UNSC on Monday night, February 28, 2022.
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