{UAH} FURY OVER PRESIDENT UHURU KENYATTA ABSENCE | The Star

http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/fury-over-president-uhuru-kenyatta-absence

FURY OVER PRESIDENT UHURU KENYATTA ABSENCE

KENYANS reacted with anger yesterday to disclosures that President Uhuru Kenyatta went to watch a Formula One race in the United Arab Emirates on the day 28 Kenyans were massacred in Mandera.

On Sunday, the Emirates News Agency WAM reported that General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, met with  Uhuru on Yas Island on the sidelines of the Formula 1 2014 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The report sparked debate among the Kenyans on social media,  with many castigating Uhuru for attending the luxury sports event when the Kenyans, most of them teachers, had been massacred in cold blood in one of the most horrifying attacks by al Shabaab.

Yesterday, there was collective anger in the National Assembly, the Senate and on social media over rising insecurity and the government leadership's handling of the menace.

Kenyans accused the President of double standards and failing to stem insecurity.

"When Kapedo happened none other than the President flew there. When people were slaughtered in Mpeketoni, Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru quickly mobilised food and cash for those who were affected. Is Mandera part of Kenya or not? Why are Luhya leaders being left to struggle to bury their dead?It is very sad that Kenyans are being killed when the President is watching Formula One in Abu Dhabi," said Senate Minority Leader Moses Wetang'ula.

The President flew back to Kenya last night after a four-day visit to the UAE. During his visit, little was heard of him until yesterday, when the Presidential Strategic Communications Unit sent out a statement saying the head of stateheld bilateral talks with leaders from Jordan and the UAE on issues of security, combating terrorism and stemming radicalisation.

The  statement said President Kenyatta met King Abdullah II of Jordan, with whom he discussed threats posed by terrorism to Kenya and the Middle East. He also met Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, among others. 

The statement, which quoted PSCU head Manoah Esipisu, did not, however, state when and where the President held his meetings.

"How can the President go enjoying himself when Kenya was burning? We have been left to bury our dead in our poverty," said Kakamega Senator Bonny Khalwale.

Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa accused the President of failing to secure Kenyans.

"We are speaking with bitterness. Many professionals have lost their lives. The buck stops with the President," said Wamalwa.

 The President left Kenya on Friday at 6pm for a four-day official visit to Abu Dhabi.

Uhuru was expected to attend a series of bilateral meetings focused on expanding and deepening cooperation in areas of mutual interest between Kenya and the UAE.

In a departure from his usual way of using social media such as  Facebook and Twitter to share with Kenyans what he is doing, the President's online accounts posted no activity and no updates after his Friday departure.

Kenyans on social media were of the opinion that Uhuru should have cut short his trip.

Yesterday, Uhuru missed two functions he was expected to preside over in Kenya.

He was to officially open the new Police Sacco building in Ngara, Nairobi, before proceeding  to open the 18th African Securities Exchanges Association (ASEA) Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Conference at Leisure Lodge, Kwale County.

Deputy President William Ruto represented him in Kwale.

Following the bus massacre, about 300 non-Muslims yesterday took refuge at a KDF camp in Mandera as they pleaded with the government to evacuate them from the conflict region.

More than 140 civil servants and teachers spent Monday night in the camp, and yesterday morning there was a steady stream of panic-stricken Kenyans into the camp.

They made their passionate plea following a tour of the area by Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua and Army Commander Joseph Kasaon.

"We want to go back home because we are not sure of the security around this county," one of them, who did not wish to be identified, said. "Our families back at home are worried and we cannot use the roads because we know how dangerous they are."

However, Kinyua said that evacuating Kenyans from Mandera would mean al Shabaab have won.

"We do not want to give our sovereign country to other people. We have to stand together united, despite being of different religious backgrounds," he said.

Kinyua added that the Government is determined to secure the lives of all Kenyans.

Kasaon promised that more troops would be deployed to Mandera to pursue the terror militia into Somalia. He said KDF soldiers will also be sent to escort cars along the highway to Mandera.

FURY OVER PRESIDENT UHURU KENYATTA ABSENCE | The Star
http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/fury-over-president-uhuru-kenyatta-absence‎

Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone.