In a startling development, a highly placed spokesperson for the Kenyan government has accused Norway of “supporting” terrorist activities in Kenya. Dennis Itumbi, the Director of Digital Communication in the Office of the President, on Monday morning tweeted that Norway’s decision to continue funding Haki Africa, a Mombasa-based NGO, amounts to being on the opposite side of Kenya’s fight against terror.
Norway’s ambassador to Kenya Victor Rønneberg says his Gvt will continue funding Haki Africa despite GOK actions,I ask #NorwaySupportsTerror
— Dennis Itumbi (@OleItumbi) May 25, 2015
Haki Africa was among several NGOs blacklisted by the Kenyan government for being linked to terrorists in the aftermath of the attack on Garissa University College. The Foreign Affairs Ministry on May 12th wrote to the US, UK and Norwegian government asking them to stop funding Haki Africa. Norway’s ambassador to Kenya Victor Rønneberg issued his reply through the press saying his government would continue to fund the NGO because the vital work it does.
“We support the organisations because of their valuable contribution to the realization of human rights on the Kenyan coast and for their important contribution to countering violent extremism. Norway supports Haki Africa together with the USA and UK and have carried out due diligence on the organisation,” said the ambassador according to the Nation newspaper.
Norway’s ambassador to Kenya Victor Rønneberg said his government will continue supporting @HakiAfrika http://t.co/93hFIHLjry
— JFJustice (@JFJustice) May 25, 2015
It’s this reply that appears to have angered Itumbi.
Gvt writes to Norway and says do not fund Haki Afrika we have security concerns Norway replies and says we will, well #NorwaySupportsTerror
— Dennis Itumbi (@OleItumbi) May 25, 2015
There can only be one conclusion when a foreign country like Norway declines security advice from a host nation #NorwaySupportsTerror
— Dennis Itumbi (@OleItumbi) May 25, 2015
Itumbi had an opportunity to walk back the diplomatically explosive claim in his tweet when he was put to task by journalist Samira Sawlani and activist Boniface Mwangi but he stuck to his guns. He’s also been quite adamant on who he speaks for.
If the Ambassador remarks represent his Gvt. @samirasawlani then no question about it #NorwaySupportsTerror
— Dennis Itumbi (@OleItumbi) May 25, 2015
If Gvt says it has serious concerns @bonifacemwangi Norway cannot tell us go to hell @AMB_A_Mohammed @HakiAfrica @HCCTurner
— Dennis Itumbi (@OleItumbi) May 25, 2015
For the record, I stand by each tweet. Norway cannot reject the host Nation security advice through the media unless it supports Terror
— Dennis Itumbi (@OleItumbi) May 25, 2015
Itumbi has gotten an equal measure of criticism and support for his broadside against Norway.
@OleItumbi stop tweeting like a zombie #NorwaySupportsTerror
— Geoffrey Bigo (@BigoGeoffrey) May 25, 2015
Ole Itumbi is a disgrace to the jubilee government #NorwaySupportsTerror
— Mageto Elijah (@MagetoElijah1) May 25, 2015
Norway ambassador should go back to his country, kenyans are died of burying their loved ones #NorwaySupportsTerror
— June Felicity (@felicity_june) May 25, 2015
#NorwaySupportsTerror Who can we lay our trust on really?If a foreign and a big country like Norway can host terror.
— Jennifer Kangethe (@KangeJeni) May 25, 2015
Itumbi made his name as blogger before being appointed to join then newly-elected President Uhuru Kenyatta’s press team in 2013. He’s widely known to be among the people who craft the president’s media strategy. Norway and Kenya have always enjoyed cordial relations so it will be interesting to see how this pans out.
The only time Kenya had strained relations with Norway was during the Moi regime when Norway hosted several Kenyans who took refuge there due to the repressive Kenyan government. Using the harshtag #NorwaySupportsTerror is not only unfortunate, thoughtless but also likely to spark a diplomatic raw as any issues Kenya has should address them diplomatically not on twitter.
