NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 22 — Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei has been caught up in a rare clash with his predecessor Macharia Kamau over renewed hostilities between retired President Uhuru Kenyatta and the government.
Kamau who supports Kenyatta’s office under the auspices of the EAC Nairobi-led process seeking stability in DRC fired the fist salvo after terming actions by President William Ruto’s administration as being tantamount to “a lack of patriotism abd self esteem”.
He was responding to reports of an planned raid by security agencies on the Karen home of Kenyatta’s son Jomo amid accusations the retired leader was financing anti-government riots.
“The example that you’re setting to your family and your compatriots, to the next generation and the international community about whom you are and how you think is terrible,” Kamau tweeted on Saturday.
The former Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary who once served as Kenya’s top diplomat in New York further faulted the government’s intolerance.
“It’ll haunt you and your ilk. An inability to live and let live,” he went on to state.
Sing’Oei however fired back saying the government will not relent in its efforts to stop “enablers of anarchy” from destabilizing the country.
“Enablers of anarchy no matter their personal station in life must be subjected to the full weight of the law,” he sated.
Sing’Oei went further to stated that no one is above the law suggesting that the government would not shy away from confronting Kenyatta if he violated the law.
“That’s how former president Trump is the subject matter of a federal criminal investigation.”
The surprising clash followed Kenyatta’s dramatic news conference at his son’s Karen home where he alleged security agents had arrived in a vehicle marked in foreign number plates.
Confiscated weapons
Kenyatta alleged a State-orchestrated plot to intimidate him into reconsidering his support for the Raila Odinga-led opposition alliance, Azimio which he founded while in office to counter Ruto’s presidential campaign.
Top government officials have accused Kenyatta of funding riots disguised as protests in a wider scheme to destabilize the government.
House Speaker Moses Wetang’ula cautioned Kenyatta against his combative posture against the government.
“Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta, cast away your unhelpful rage and vitriol. Politics will ensnare you,” he advised.
But even as he denied funding protests, Kenyatta insisted that demonstrates had a point and that all Ruto’s government ought to do is to address concerns raised.
The development came even as security agencies recovered twenty-three privately-held firearms in raids targeting three homes in Nairobi’s Karen.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki said intelligence reports pointed to the use of civilian-registered firearms during protests called by Odinga.
“Today’s operation is part of a broader operation targeting scores of firearm holders who are reasonably suspected to be availing firearms not only for purposes of supporting violent protests but also other illegal activities,” the Interior CS said.
Kindiki, who defended the operation as lawful, did not divulge details on the three homes raided.
He also did not speak on reports of the presence of DCI agents at the Karen home of Jomo, Kenyatta’s son.
