Britain Refutes Claims It Not Does Recognize Kenya Government

APA-Nairobi (Kenya) The British government on Monday refuted claims that it does not recognize President Mwai Kibaki and his government. Visiting British African Affairs Minister Mark Malloch Brown said his government respects Kenya and has never at any one time said it does not recognize President Kibaki and his government.

He said that Britain remains a great friend of Kenya, according to a statement issued to the press in Nairobi by the Presidential Press Service.

Brown was speaking at State House Nairobi after delivering special greetings to President Kibaki from British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

He said the British government was impartial about the current political situation in the country.

He pointed out that Kenya is an important country in the region and regretted that it has been affected by the post-election violence that has caused loss of lives and destruction of property.

Brown conveyed the British government’s donation of one million pounds towards the resettlement of those affected by the post-election violence and expressed hope that the political impasse will be resolved fast to prevent the country from collapse.

President Kibaki welcomed the clarification from the British government, saying Kenya was surprised by earlier reports that had alleged an unfavorable stand against the Kenya government by Britain.

A week ago, Kenya Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetangula summoned British High Commissioner Adam Wood over remarks by Assistant Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Meg Munn in House of Commons that Britain does not recognize Kibaki’s government

Munn reportedly made the remarks two weeks ago after the results of the highly disputed December 27 elections were announced and the opposition claimed they were rigged in favor of Kibaki.

Source African Press Agency

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