Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has denounced the Congo River Alliance Declaration that is being pushed by Congolese opposition figure Corneille Nangaa.
Mr Kenyatta, the facilitator of the East African Community (EAC) led Nairobi Peace process, expressed shock at the formation of the alliance saying he rejects it as the grouping seeks to unseat the government.
Mr Nangaa, who is living in exile, announced last week the creation of a political-military alliance with M23 rebels and other armed groups to “save the country”.
“The Facilitator repudiates these developments and in particular their military character, and the accompanying politically charged and provocative rhetoric,” Mr Kenyatta said.
The retired Kenyan president said he watched with “shock and dismay at the developments as individuals claiming to be pursuing the interest of greater peace and stability in the DRC initiated yet another political and military alliance to challenge the legitimate political status quo in the troubled country”.
Mr Kenyatta restated his support for the US-backed ceasefire, saying he continues to seek its indefinite extension to facilitate the peace-building process, and put an end to the senseless killing and suffering of the people of the eastern DRC.
Kenya also distanced itself from the alliance and has promised to investigate the matter after DRC recalled its ambassador in protest.
Prime Cabinet Secretary, who is also the Foreign Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi said the government had nothing to do with the statements issued by Mr Nangaa.
“The Ministry wishes to note that Kenya is an open and democratic state where freedom of the press is vouchsafed. As such, nationals and non-nationals may engage the Kenyan media without reference to the government,” Mr Mudavadi said in a statement on Sunday.
The Prime CS said the government was investigating the whole matter with the aim of determining the identities of the makers of the statement.
