Kenyan ambassador in Juba summoned over Peter Biar’s anti-Kiir remarks

JUBA – The Kenyan Ambassador to South Sudan, Samuel Nandwa, has been summoned and handed a protest letter over Dr.  Peter Biar Ajak’s alcohol remarks against President Salva Kiir on Kenya Television Network (KTN), a senior government official said.

During the show, Dr. Biar alleged that President Salva Kiir could not address mourners in Kenya last week due to a “hangover”.

Kiir traveled to Nairobi on April 28 where he joined others to mourn Former Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki’s funeral prayers.

But he was unable to address the gathering due to a throat issue and he delegated his Cabinet Minister Dr. Martin Ellia Lomoro to speak on his behalf.

Speaking to reporters after the cabinet meeting on Friday, Information Minister, Michael Makuei Lueth said the South Sudanese ambassador in Kenya has been directed to protest Dr. Biar’s remarks against President Kiir.

“The government has taken measures on that. We have summoned the Kenyan ambassador here and gave him our protest and our ambassador also had also been directed to present a protest to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kenya,” Makuei told media after a regular cabinet meeting in Juba on Friday.

Makuei said Peter Bair’s statement against the sitting President was uncalled for and unacceptable.

“That was of course not accepted for a media house in Kenya to allow people who are in opposition to just utter irresponsible statements and give statements in the media houses,” Makuei said.

A senior government official said the Kenyan government shouldn’t allow their platforms to be used by the opposition to offend the president.

“This was not acceptable and we have taken all necessary actions to address that situation that was an unfortunate situation because the speaker concentrated much on the personal issues of the President,” he said.

“Not that only but he went as far as saying all the commanders are drunkards and that they have been drinking during the war and including his father because his father is a general.”

He said described the protest letter as normal diplomatic action to express dissatisfaction with allowing their platforms to be used to abuse the President.

“This is a normal diplomatic action that is taken; it is an expression of dissatisfaction with what was done or for making Kenyan media to be a platform for opposition to the government of South Sudan,” he said.