The opposition's NASA coalition has welcomed the forthright statement by Canada expressing “deep concern” about the Kenyan government’s recent unlawful actions.
"We hope this rare, unqualified public remonstrance from a major western capital will add to the growing pressure Uhuru Kenyatta is under to desist from his atrocious betrayals of our country’s cardinal constitutional principle, the rule of law," said Salim Lone, the adviser to NASA leader Raila Odinga.
He said while such statements were extremely valuable, it is only specific actions that countries and groups take that will have a truly meaningful impact on this government’s behavior.
In a statement on Thursday, Lone said Canada remains one of the few powerful democracies that continues to advocate democratic governance.
"At the same time, democratization is becoming one of the most neglected world concerns, despite the clamour for it in a world which has less and less of it."
Lone said that the statement should reflect a Canadian commitment to take more public positions on such political issues in Africa in particular, given the "growing democratic deficit the continent is experiencing at the hands of too many so-called democratic governments."
"Such a stand will give Canada a greater leadership role among the world ‘s people, if not with anti-democratic governments," he said.
Dated February 7, Canada’s statement highlighted Chief Justice David Maraga’s assertion that “there have been worrying developments in the administration of justice that threaten the rule of law.”
Canada’s Foreign Ministry spelled out Kenya’s recent actions, including the "unlawful detention of opposition members without due process or access to counsel, and the shutdown of, and restrictions on, certain media outlets."
"A free media and adherence to the rule of law are essential components of democracy,” read part of the statement.