Kenya's Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing'oei on Saturday, June 17, disapproved the detention of the South Africa Presidential envoy at Warsaw's Chopin Airport, Poland.
In a statement, the Foreign Affairs PS reprimanded Poland government officials who detained over 120 people attached to President Cyril Ramaphosa en route to a peace summit in Ukraine.
Sing'oei argued that the decision breached diplomatic protocols, which threatened to ruin international relations between the countries involved in the peace mission in Ukraine.
Further, Sing'oei, a specialist in international law and governance, observed the mistreatment of the South African presidential envoy was the worst in history.
"We strongly deplore the serious breaches of diplomatic protocols by Poland in the treatment of South Africa's delegation led by President Cyril Ramaphosa en route to Kyiv on a peace mission.
"History must record this as the worst treatment of a Head of State of any country ever," Sing'Oei stated.
Following the detention, President Cyril Ramaphosa travelled separately to Ukraine, without some of his security detail.
Ramaphosa's head of security Wally Rhoode condemned the decision indicating that it was putting President Ramaphosa's life at risk.
"They are delaying us. They are putting the life of our president in jeopardy," Rhoode stated while addressing journalists.
"We could have been in Kyiv by now and this is all they are doing. I want you guys to see how racist they are," he further stated.
Poland Reaction
Poland, however, dismissed racism claims but maintained the two governments were working to address the standoff involving Ramaphosa's security detail.
"Accusations against Poland of racism are being circulated in this case. This is nonsense," the director of the National Security Department and spokesman for Poland's Minister-Special Services Coordinator, Stanisław Żaryn, stated.
Despite the standoff, President Ramaphosa and other African leaders were expected to meet Russia's President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg in Russia on Saturday, June 17.
He met the Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Friday, June 16.
Kenya's Stance on Ukraine-Russia Conflict
President William Ruto on Wednesday, March 29, insisted that Kenya would not apportion blame to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
While speaking to the German state broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW), the Head of State argued that Russia's invasion of Ukraine has hurt everyone.
He, however, implored world leaders to address the conflict by following the agreed global laws.
"Maybe it is Russia and Ukraine today. You never know who it is tomorrow if we allow this to go on. Our position has been this can be resolved. We must be a rules-based globe," Ruto stated.
