Based on the information you provided, it appears that Raila Odinga, the leader of the Umoja One Kenya coalition party, has criticized the United States Ambassador to Kenya, Meg Whitman, for her remarks regarding the credibility of the August 2022 General Election in Kenya. Odinga expressed his disagreement with Whitman’s statement and accused her of meddling in Kenya’s internal affairs. He made these comments during an address at the Devolution Conference in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County.
Key points from Odinga’s response include:
- Meddling Allegations: Odinga accused Ambassador Whitman of meddling in Kenyan affairs due to her positive comments about the credibility of the 2022 General Election. He criticized her for commenting on Kenyan issues and implied that her statements were inappropriate.
- Purpose of Demonstrations: Odinga defended recent demonstrations in Kenya, stating that they serve the purpose of uniting the country and encouraging the government to engage in dialogue.
- Threat of Recall: Odinga warned that if Ambassador Whitman continues to comment on Kenyan matters, the opposition political faction might petition the US government to recall her as the ambassador.
- Kenya’s Sovereignty: Odinga emphasized that Kenya is not a colony of the United States and urged Ambassador Whitman to refrain from making further comments on Kenyan affairs.
These remarks by Odinga followed similar criticism from members of the Azimio coalition party. They accused Ambassador Whitman of making comments that could undermine ongoing national talks and suggested that her remarks were contrary to the US’s support for democracy.
Ambassador Whitman had earlier praised the 2022 General Election in Kenya as one of the most credible elections in the country’s history. She stated that the election was observed by both international and local organizations and that the results were upheld by the Kenyan Supreme Court. Her positive assessment of the election’s credibility contradicts Odinga’s and some other opposition members’ views.