By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The Minister of Transport in Kenya, Kipchumba Murkomen has stirred controversy after describing its East African country, Rwanda as an “autocracy” where “whatever the president says is the law”.
Appearing on TV programme where he responded to criticisms over unfavourable transport policies of his country when compared to that of Rwanda, the Minister further claimed that Kenya was a democracy with legal processes.
During his appearance at the privately owned Citizen TV on Monday night, Mr Murkomen was asked why Kenya could not make public transport work in an orderly way like in Rwanda.
In Kenya, minibus taxis which usually flout regulations maneuver their way through congested roads, causing accidents in most cases.
But the transport minister dismissed any comparison between Kenya and Rwanda saying that the political situation in Rwanda was different from the democracy in Kenya.
“Rwanda is not like Kenya. Rwanda is an autocracy and there whatever the president says is the law,” Mr Murkomen minister said, adding that Rwanda is “even smaller than Kajiado county”, a county in the outskirts of Nairobi.
“For every decision you make in this country you must go through a proposal then parliament then public participation,” he added.
Rwanda, which has in the past enjoyed good relations with Kenya, is yet to respond to the minister’s comments.
Kenyans have however urged Mr Murkomen to retract the remarks, expressing concern that it may cause a frosty relationship between both countries.
The minister’s comment has sparked diverse reactions on social media, with some Kenyans terming it “bar talk” that could trigger a diplomatic row between the two East African countries.
Apparently aware that his comments were already garnering criticism while he was on air, the minister later told the interviewer that “autocracy is not a bad thing”.
He said Rwanda’s system of leadership empowers the president, who had used it “for positive good”.
“Minister Murkomen can’t attack a sovereign friendly state without provocation and disparage President Paul Kagame just like that,” prominent lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi posted on X after the programme aired.
Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame has been the dominant political figure in the country since 1994. He won the last presidential election with nearly 99% of the vote and, elections permitting, could remain in power until 2034.
