Government Spokesman Eric Kiraithe has said Kenya has no problem
with an obscene word used by US President Donald Trump to describe
African countries and Haiti.
with an obscene word used by US President Donald Trump to describe
African countries and Haiti.
Mr Kiraithe on Thursday told journalists that the statement by President Trump were not directed to Kenya.
“The
statement was not an official matter that, say, is related to the
relationship with the government. We enjoy a cordial relationship.
statement was not an official matter that, say, is related to the
relationship with the government. We enjoy a cordial relationship.
“We are studying the context in which these statements were made and see whether it is worth the attention,” he said.
APOLOGISE
In a statement to the Nation,
he pointed out that the remarks by Mr Trump were not official
government-to-government communication but Kenya supports the statement
by the African Union which condemned the US President’s comments.
he pointed out that the remarks by Mr Trump were not official
government-to-government communication but Kenya supports the statement
by the African Union which condemned the US President’s comments.
Mr Kiraithe’s statement is the first official response by the government since the remarks were reported last week.
Last
week, National Super Alliance leader Raila Odinga, while wading into
the debate, said the statements were “disparaging troubling and greatly
unfortunate”.
week, National Super Alliance leader Raila Odinga, while wading into
the debate, said the statements were “disparaging troubling and greatly
unfortunate”.
“The remarks are deeply hypocritical as
they conveniently ignore the fact that US corporations have set up tents
in the same African countries that President Trump is disparaging and
are making billions of dollars that they repatriate back to the US,”
said Mr Odinga.
they conveniently ignore the fact that US corporations have set up tents
in the same African countries that President Trump is disparaging and
are making billions of dollars that they repatriate back to the US,”
said Mr Odinga.
WHITE HOUSE
Leaders from across the world also voiced their condemnations, and accused the US President of racism.
Some African nations like South Africa and Nigeria summoned the US ambassadors over the remarks.
President
Trump, had in a meeting with lawmakers in the White House dismissed
Haiti, El Salvador and Africa as “shithole countries” whose inhabitants
are not desirable for US immigration.
Trump, had in a meeting with lawmakers in the White House dismissed
Haiti, El Salvador and Africa as “shithole countries” whose inhabitants
are not desirable for US immigration.
But Mr Trump has
denied using the vulgar terms, tweeting: “The language used by me at
the DACA meeting was tough, but this was not the language used.”
denied using the vulgar terms, tweeting: “The language used by me at
the DACA meeting was tough, but this was not the language used.”
African Union chairperson Moussa Faki last week said he was alarmed by the comments.
“Considering
the historical reality of how many Africans arrived in the US during
the Atlantic slave trade, this flies in the face of all accepted
behaviour and practice,” he said through his spokesperson Ebba Kalondo.
the historical reality of how many Africans arrived in the US during
the Atlantic slave trade, this flies in the face of all accepted
behaviour and practice,” he said through his spokesperson Ebba Kalondo.