By PATRICK LANG'ATMore by this AuthorKenya was on Tuesday caught in a diplomatic storm following claims that it was soliciting congratulatory messages from foreign countries after the re-election of President Uhuru Kenyatta. The apparent endorsement of Mr Kenyatta broke ranks with other western countries that harbour concerns about the manner of Mr Kenyatta’s victory. UNSOLICITEDBut Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Monica Juma said that the congratulatory messages were coming in on their own, unsolicited. Essentially, these congratulatory messages are normally channelled through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” State House Spokesman Manoah Esipisu told journalists during a press briefing at noon on Tuesday. Mr Odinga, in his 10-day visit to the United States that ended on Monday, had stirred up the congratulatory messages discussion, saying western nations that support democracy should not congratulate President Kenyatta.

Source: Daily Nation November 21, 2017 17:15 UTC