Kenya Welcomes US, Canada Travel Bans on Ethnic Cleansing Suspects

The Kenyan government on Thursday welcomed the decision by the United States and Canadian governments to slap travel bans on politicians who fueled violence and ethnic cleansing during the post-election period but urged both governments to make public the identity of the individuals.

To avoid speculation, Kenya would encourage both the American and Canadian governments to let the world know who these individuals are, said government spokesman Alfred Mutua in a statement issued in Nairobi.

Mutua said the move by both the governments was a commendable move which shows they stand strong stand against such crimes.

He said the government, together with other international agencies, has been very vocal about the need for international investigations into the ethnic cleansing so as to identify the political masterminds of these crimes and ensure they are brought to book.

“The government encourages other nations such as the United Kingdom, United Nations and even Asian nations to take similar action so as to send a clear message that no one will be allowed to plan and unleash ethnic cleansing and genocide anywhere in the world,” he said.

On Wednesday, American ambassador to Kenya Michael Ranneberger said his government has already sent letters to ten politicians from both the government and opposition camps and also business people believed to have incited, organized or financed ethnic cleansing in Kenya’s vast Rift Valley province.

Ranneberger said that the individuals are expected to defend themselves on the allegations, but refused to reveal the names of the individuals.

Ranneberger also said they are currently investigating some other 100 people, believed to be behind the violence that has already claimed more than 1,000 lives and displaced over 300,000 people.

Canadian High Commissioner to Kenya Ryan Ross also said that any time soon his government will slap travel bans on individuals suspected to have been behind the post-election violence.

Source African Press Agency

Net News Publisher