Kisumu County Governor Anyang Nyong’o on Monday, February 19, asked a Kenyan refinery company to halt its operations with Israel.
In a statement, Governor Nyong’o remarked that his request was informed by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which he agitated to be solved by a two-state approach between Israel and her neighbours.
Nyong’o faulted the refinery for allowing its top leadership to meet with Israel's Economic and Trade Mission last week in Nairobi.
At the meeting, the two parties discussed collaboration with Israeli companies in the Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sectors.
“We are calling our brother to restrain his company from taking this move in line with the decisions taken by the United Nations Organization and the International Court of Justice,” Nyong’o stated.
Noteworthy, Nyong’o spoke in his capacity as a county governor and not as a representative of Kenya’s foreign policy as evidenced in his letter.
The governor, since last year, has spoken against the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
In November 2023, he appealed to the African Union (AU) to sever diplomatic ties with Israel.
The AU did not acknowledge receipt of the Kisumu Governor’s letter although the body has been exploring ways to foster peace and stability in the region.
On its part, Kenya is part of Operation Prosperity Guardian led by the United States which seeks to counter Houthi rebels operating in the Red Sea.
In November 2023, President William Ruto while not taking any side in the conflict supported the idea of a two-state solution.
“We believe that Palestine should be a free state and we stand for a two-state solution as a means of resolving the conflict,” Ruto stated during a meeting of African leaders with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
