Uproar over multiple US travel advisory to Kisumu as Nyanza women leaders protest
Multiple US travel advisory to Kisumu has caused a lot of criticism from the Nyanya region calling on the US to stop profiling the community.
Nyanza leaders have called out the US over travel advisory against Kisumu saying the alerts are in bad taste.
The security warnings issued by certain foreign embassies and development partners in Nairobi have also been met with protests by women leaders in the Nyanza area.
They highlighted their dissatisfaction with the random security alerts that the US Embassy in Nairobi has so far issued twice.
The US Embassy sent the alerts to inform its citizens of the possibility of an outbreak of violence during the Supreme Court’s decision-making and announcement of the presidential petition judgment.
The women believe that the Luo group is being singled out because the alert notices expressly mention Kisumu and its surroundings as being the places most susceptible to violent outbursts.
They have therefore described the action as biased, ineffective, and unjustified.
Former Maendeleo ya Wanawake chair Dr. Phoebe Asiyo said the move would incite youth to engage in violence, thereby undoing the hard work of peacebuilding that several actors have accomplished in the region.
“We the Luo women elders and our children are determined to keep the peace no matter the Supreme Court ruling,” said Asiyo.
Betty Okero, the Civil Society Organization (CSO) Network team leader said the announcement is tantamount to unprovoked, blatant, and malicious profiling of the region and its people.
The US travel advisory also irked Kisumu governor Anyang’ Nyong’o who claimed highlighted Kisumu County as a hotspot for violence.
“We reject the tone of the memo, which singles out Kisumu and suggests that the city could witness violence after the September 5 Supreme Court ruling on the presidential election petition,” he explained.
Other leaders in the region were appalled by the directive that painted Kisumu in a bad light.
County Commissioner Josephine Ouko insisted that Kisumu did not witness violence after William Ruto was declared President-elect even though the US embassy had issued a similar advisory.
Furthermore, she noted that the region was tired of violence and was ready to move on from the election activities.
“It is in bad faith that the statement from the US government is coming out while the same has not been shared with relevant authorities,” she said.
Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi announced that the advisory highlighted bad faith on the part of the US government.
“As leaders from the Luo community, we take great exception to such a reckless move by the US government,” he lamented.
The travel advisory came a few days after the US ambassador to Kenya, Meg Whitman, toured the area.
Prior to her visit, the US cautioned its residents against traveling to Kisumu.
Also read,
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IHRF (International Human Rights Foundation) responds to claims of being biased on Kenya’s election
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