Kenyatta Fires His Ambassador To The United States Amid Somali Protests
By Somali Rights
Washington, DC - A day after hundreds of Somalis demonstrated in front of
the Kenyan Embassy in Washington, DC, Kenya has fired its Ambassador to the
United States of America, Mr. Elkanah Odembo. Mr. Odembo, who has been
Kenya's Ambassador to the United States, was fired altogether without any
subsequent diplomatic appointment. The dismissal of Mr. Odembo was done so
abruptly that even his replacement has not been confirmed by the Kenyan
parliament.
The Kenyan Embassy in the United States sent out a short message through its
facebook and twitter handle. The message, posted on social media networks on
Tuesday, July 16, 2013, at 4:26pm, read:
'This is to inform that H.E. Elkanah Odembo's tour of duty has come to an
end as Kenya's Ambassador to the United States. Pending the arrival of the
new Head of Mission, Ambassador Jean Kamau, Deputy Chief of Mission will act
as Charge d'Affaires, a.i.
This sudden move has all the indications of a pressure from a campaign led
by American citizens of Somali descent to get Kenyan troops out of Somali
soil and advocate for an end to Kenyan military funding by the United States
and the European Union.
Mr. Odembo comes from the Luo tribe of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga
who was instrumental in his appointment to the important position of
Ambassador to the United States. He also comes from the Nyanza region of
Kenya, where U.S. President Barack Obama's father was born.
A Horn of Africa Analyst put the sudden dismissal of Mr. Odembo this
way:'since the Luo are in the opposition, Mr. Kenyatta could not trust a Luo
to defend him against the determined campaign against Kenya's massacre in
Kismayo.'
A day before his dismissal, Ambassador Odembo spoke to a large crowd of
Somali Americans who demonstrated in front of the Kenyan Embassy to show
their displeasure with the massacre, displacement and distruction of
property committed by the Kenyan armed forces in Kismayo, Somalia. Mr.
Odembo assured the protestors that their concerns will be transmitted to the
relevant Kenyan authorities. He also followed this up with an e-mail to
Somali Rights indicating that he submitted their communication to Nairobi.
Somalis throughout the world, under the auspices of SOMALI RIGHTS, an
advocacy organization that has representatives in America, Europe, Africa
and the Middle East, will conduct demonstrations across the board. They also
retained a human rights lawyer to bring to justice Uhuru Kenyatta and his
government for crimes against humanity in Kismayo.
Thé Mulindwas Communication Group
"With Yoweri Museveni and Dr. Kiiza Besigye Uganda is in anarchy"
Kuungana Mulindwa Mawasiliano Kikundi
"Pamoja na Yoweri Museveni na Dk. Kiiza Besigye Uganda ni katika machafuko"
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