Protests: Government arms fight diplomatic statement to save Kenya’s image

Just hours after 12 Western embassies issued a joint statement criticising the use of masked police officers and 'thugs', two arms of the Kenyan government fired back letters deploring the embassies' lecture on Kenya's democratic credentials.

One such letter was sent by the National Assembly, which does not usually respond to ambassadors commenting on political issues.

In the letter, Mr Nelson Koech, Chairman of the Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations, said that Kenya remains "firmly committed to upholding the principles of democracy", including the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. However, he added that Kenya was concerned about a 'growing trend of external actors commenting on the country's internal governance'.

Mr Koech warned that such comments, even if well-intentioned, risked eroding the principle of mutual respect in diplomatic relations.

Later, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora wrote another formal letter, known in diplomatic circles as a 'note verbale', relaying the same message and promising lawful policing, but also cautioning against 'narratives' pushed by outsiders.

"The ministry reminds all that diplomatic relations flourish best in mutual respect, open channels and a recognition of each other's unique governance contexts and challenges in line with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations," it said. Such letters are normally written by the PS for Foreign Affairs, Korir Sing'oei.

That both Parliament and the Executive wrote the letters may show a desire to fight back and control any publicity damages caused by the messaging from 12 missions. They included the UK, the US, Australia, Germany, Denmark and Finland. Others were Canada, Switzerland and Norway.

These countries have traditionally been the main donors to Kenya's institutional building on governance especially in the judiciary, security and electoral management.

But they had lately come under republic rebuke for delaying or weakened comments on police brutality. Some Western countries that traditionally commented on such issues have stayed off the radar completely with their diplomats arguing they also face a policing problem back home.