Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o, on Tuesday, compelled Kenya and the African Union (AU) to terminate diplomatic relations with Israel.
According to the governor, the conflict between Israel and Palestine has affected operations in many countries across the world.
Nyong'o, in a statement, accused Israel of escalating the already grave humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank through its constant attacks on Palestine.
“It is now clear that Zionist Israel, much against the interest of all progressive forces in the Arab world and Israel herself, is planning a major bloody invasion of Gaza and the West Bank sooner rather than later,” Nyong’o stated in a letter addressed to AU, which Kenya is a member state.
"We would like to appeal to the African Union to call upon all its member governments to immediately break diplomatic relations with Israel in solidarity with our comrades in Gaza and the West Bank," Nyong'o added.
He also warned progressive forces in Africa against watching the Israel-Hamas crisis worsen.
Nyong'o's statement comes a month after the United Nations passed a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Palestine-based militia, Hamas.
On October 27, Kenya was among the 120 nations that supported the UN resolution, contrasting the United States of America (USA) and Israel, who voted against the ceasefire.
“Our favorable vote aimed to address the emergency humanitarian needs of Palestinians in Gaza,” a statement by Kenya at the UN National Assembly read.
“We listened closely to the representatives of Israel and Palestine. We were dismayed by their lack of empathy for each other's innocent civilian casualties. This entrenched partiality, this failure to recognize the shared humanity on both sides, is a fundamental obstacle to resolving this protracted conflict,” Kenya's communique added.
On October 8, President William Ruto also denounced the Hamas attack on Israel, painting it as an act of terrorism.
“Kenya strongly maintains that there exists no justification whatsoever for terrorism, which constitutes a serious threat to international peace and security. All acts of terrorism and violent extremism are abhorrent, criminal, and unjustifiable, regardless of the perpetrator, or their motivations,” read part of President Ruto’s statement.
