Kenya’s Transport Minister, Kipchumba Murkomen, has ignited controversy with his comments characterizing Rwanda as an “autocracy,” emphasizing that in Rwanda, “whatever the president says is the law.”
During a live appearance on Citizen TV, Murkomen was questioned about Kenya’s public transport system in comparison to Rwanda’s. He dismissed any similarities between the two countries, highlighting the democratic processes in Kenya and the perceived differences in Rwanda’s political landscape.
In his remarks, Murkomen pointed out that Rwanda operates differently, describing it as an autocracy where decisions predominantly emanate from the president without following the legal procedures typical in Kenya.
He also made a comparison by stating that Rwanda is “even smaller than Kajiado county,” an area in Nairobi’s outskirts.
Rwanda’s President, Paul Kagame, has held a dominant political position since 1994, winning the last presidential election with an overwhelming majority.
Murkomen’s comments alluded to the extended tenure of President Kagame and criticisms from rights groups regarding opposition suppression, a claim denied by the Rwandan government.
The Minister’s statements caused a stir on social media, with some expressing concerns about potential diplomatic tensions between Kenya and Rwanda. Notably, Murkomen later tried to temper his initial remarks by suggesting that “autocracy is not a bad thing,” highlighting its potential for positive governance.
Prominent figures within Kenya, such as lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi, criticized Murkomen’s comments, highlighting the need for diplomatic respect between nations.
Similarly, Korir Sing’oei from Kenya’s foreign ministry emphasized Rwanda’s significance as a key ally and acknowledged the diversity of expressions within East African nations.
Following the backlash, the transport minister acknowledged the strengths of Kenya’s leadership style but criticized its bureaucratic nature.
Murkomen, known as a close ally of President William Ruto, had drawn attention recently due to a power outage at Nairobi’s main airport.
These comments about Rwanda arrived shortly after President Ruto reaffirmed Kenya’s diplomatic relations with neighboring countries as “perfect,” responding to concerns about possible East African presidential absence during Kenya’s recent independence celebrations.
