Kenya will not accept lectures from foreign envoys on its internal affairs, MP Nelson Koech has declared in response to a joint diplomatic statement calling for peaceful protests and accountability ahead of demonstrations slated for June 25.
Koech, who chairs the National Assembly’s Committee on Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations, criticized the statement; issued by ambassadors and high commissioners from 13 Western countries including the US, UK, Germany, and Canada—as a potential breach of diplomatic decorum.
“We remain committed to democratic principles enshrined in our Constitution,” said Koech. “But commentary that veers into domestic policing matters risks eroding the principle of sovereign equality that underpins diplomacy.”
In their joint statement, the envoys urged Kenya to uphold the right to peaceful assembly and expressed concern about the use of plainclothes officers and unmarked vehicles—tactics previously ruled unlawful by Kenya’s High Court.
They also condemned the alleged use of hired goons to disrupt peaceful gatherings.
Koech warned against foreign missions adopting the “language of partisan actors,” noting that while Kenya values partnerships, it rejects any form of external pressure.
“The Republic of Kenya continues to embrace its vibrant democracy not at the urging of others, but by the will of its people,” he said.
“We invite all diplomatic partners to walk with us in mutual respect, upholding the core values of the Vienna Convention: non-interference, constructive engagement, and sovereign dignity.”
He concluded with a pointed reminder: “Kenya is not a subject of external surveillance. Kenya is a nation rising secure in its democracy and firm in its partnership.”
The remarks come as tension builds ahead of Wednesday’s planned protests, marking one year since the contentious 2024 Finance Bill demonstrations.
