The Kenyan government has responded to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni’s threats of potential wars over the access of the Indian Ocean and port of Mombasa. The Kenyan government, led by President William Ruto, responded to war threats by Yoweri Museveni. Museveni made the statements on Sunday, November 9, saying it was unfair to block landlocked nations from accessing a key route for trade and strategic defence. Using a condominium analogy, he likened Africa to a shared apartment block, arguing that coastal countries should not claim exclusive ownership of the ocean.
He further highlighted the difficulties Uganda faces in developing a naval force for defence and negotiating with Kenya on infrastructure such as railways and pipelines, warning that such restrictions could spark future wars. How did Kenya react to Museveni’s war threats? The response came during the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ third quarterly media briefing, where Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei reassured the public that Kenya remains committed to international territorial laws and peaceful diplomacy. Reacting to the remarks, Sing’Oei downplayed the threats, emphasising Kenya’s adherence to legal frameworks. “I will not comment much on what Museveni said with respect to our oceans, but I believe very much that he has a fairly great understanding with respect to the nature of our territory, and the nature of our rights with respect to our natural resources, and his rights with natural resources in Ugandan territory,” he said. Sing’Oei also highlighted the broader objectives of Kenya’s foreign policy under President William Ruto’s administration.
“This forum provided an opportunity for us to update the general public on the ministry’s milestones, priorities, and progress in advancing Kenya’s foreign policy objectives. We highlighted our relationship with countries in the East African Community, peace and security issues, as well as diaspora-related matters,” he added in a social media post following the briefing. How Kenyans reacted to Museveni’s war threat TUKO.co.ke previously reported that Kenyans flooded social media with mixed reactions after Museveni’s remarks, with many questioning his reasoning and mocking the notion. Netizens joked about the “impractical” idea and suggested that Kenya would easily prevail if any conflict ever arose. Some questioned how Uganda would transport goods through the ocean even if granted access, pointing out Kenya’s control over key trade routes.
By Harry Ivan Mboto
