The government has issued a statement reassuring the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) of a respectful relationship.
This comes after Deputy President William Ruto’s recent remarks on DRC’s dairy sector sparked outrage in the Central Africa nation, with journalists, politicians, activists, and the general public describing the comments as disparaging.
Ruto while addressing a group of business owners in Nyeri on Monday pledged to ensure milk farmers sell their produce in DRC, where he claimed there are no cows despite the country’s huge population.
“The DRC has 90 million people but do not have a single cow,” Ruto was quoted as saying.
In a statement on Wednesday, Kenya’s ambassador to DRC George Masafu acknowledged that Ruto’s sentiments have been poorly received among the nation’s business circles and citizens.
“The Embassy has informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nairobi on the negative reactions that the comments have triggered among the business community and general populace in the DRC,” Masafu said in a statement.
Masafu said Ruto’s remarks are personal and should not be interpreted as Kenya’s, adding that Kenya and DRC have maintained strong bilateral relationships over the years.
“Kenya is confident that these relations will be entrenched through government-to-government frameworks and people-to-people partnerships that have been built in the last years,” he said.
The ambassador also expressed Kenya’s commitment to continue engaging and building strong trade partnerships with DRC.
DRC Senator Amb. Francine Muyumba on Tuesday described the deputy president’s sentiments as insulting and urged him to withdraw and apologize.
Ruto with his kimbelembele…
Ruto with his kimbelembele tendencies & lies did not serve him well in Nyeri. Talking of cows and milk this guy was an agricultural minister during Nusu Mkate government and besides impoverishing maize farmers in Rift Valley via stealing their money and importing more maize, he had nothing to offer. Raila actually fired him and vowed never to work with this evil man from Sugoi.
Someone should state here what this con has done for the common man besides stealing and redistributing the money for political gain.
@Mugikuyu Let it sink to you…
@Mugikuyu Let it sink to you that Raila didn’t fire Ruto as agriculture minister. He had non, zero powers to fire him. That’s why Kibaki fixed that mistake very quickly.
You have asked a question to know what Ruto has done to anyone and I’m glad you gave yourself one of the answers. Social justice requires REDISTRIBUTION of wealth. And you got right. He has helped so many across the country to set own businesses among other things.
Nonsense! Raila fired Ruto…
Nonsense! Raila fired Ruto for stealing maize! Kibaki saved Ruto because at that time Kibaki needed to use Ruto because he had issues with Raila! There will never be a Ruto presidency in kenya! I have said this enough now and I don’t know why folks are not getting it! A thief can’t lead Kenyans!
Is you name really Kipserem?…
Is you name really Kipserem? You sound Onyango to me.
Ruto killed 37 women and…
Ruto killed 37 women and their children inside a burning church in Kiambaa in 2007. Ask Ruto where Juma, Muteshi, Yebei, Kinei and many we don’t know are today. They are all dead!
No it’s not Ruto. It’s the…
No it’s not Ruto. It’s the Kenya government that killed about 1500 people across the country after messing up with election results. Ruto was not running for president.
@Asista, I doubt you even…
@Asista, I doubt you even believe your counter argument esp hiyo social justice umeandika hapo.
Ui wanyumba, iam voting for…
Ui wanyumba, iam voting for Ruto as the better of the 2 evils. The other guy being fed to us is a hypocrite. His endorser I have no idea why we voted for him in the first place, Kenyatta has no idea what leadership is and he is very rich since his family worked very very hard to get the properties all over Kenya
There’s nothing…
There’s nothing disrespectful whether one has a cow or not. This is just an idle talk going as far as seeking withdrawal and an apology! So what if DRC have cows or not? The better way of responding would be that they don’t need our dairy products since they have enough cows. They are at liberty to refuse to buy Kenya’s dairy products even if don’t have a single cow . It’s that simple. Sad to have a petty country’s representative as this one.
For owners of cattle in rift…
For owners of cattle in rift valley the meaning of no cow shall not be taken literally. It just means DRC have a deficit, undeveloped dairy and beef sectors. As per Google search DRC can feed 2b ppl. 80pc of land is fit for agri but 10pc is utilized. So much potential and opportunity to be a superpower.
“Those who cannot remember…
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
– George Santayana: Spanish-born American philosopher
How many of the current loyal and blind followers of UDA remember the holocaust in Kiambaa church (2007) in Eldoret?
https://youtu.be/kuLa2YKGy5c
Very very nice! Let Kenyans…
Very very nice! Let Kenyans wake up to realize Ruto ni Mwizi! Sis Wakale know that and can be hoodwinked by Ruto! Let him lie those in Central kenya before he turns around to kill all of them!
Kale my foot. You ain’t one…
Kale my foot. You ain’t one buddy. The Kales who know how to write don’t write duplicity as you. You are the same idle individual with varied pseudos as Warid, Walid, Kipserem, Biwot, etc. You a radical Maina. I remember you at times used to call yourself one of the pseudo; Walid but the ascent could not hide for too long to revert to Warid. Ruto hasn’t even a fly.
Interesting, the ambassador…
Interesting, the ambassador has no time for Kenyans in DRC, but has all time to campaign. The 2010 constitution separated politics from civil service. Unfortunately, all the presidential appointees have let Kenyans (and the constitution) down, they are all out campaigning. Wish they could live the civil service and join the campaign trail.
Oscar Sudi
https://youtu.be…
Oscar Sudi
https://youtu.be/ZatYzXJDBmw