British High Commissioner to Kenya Jane Marriott posted a statement on Twitter clarifying her neutral position regarding the just concluded presidential election.
Marriott has been a subject of a social media campaign alleging she overstepped her diplomatic bounds by appearing to support Deputy President William Ruto and was overheard at Bomas Tallying Center calling for Azimio flagbearer Raila Odinga to concede.
Marriott called the allegations misinformation and sought to set records straight on Twitter.
“There has been a lot of misinformation circulating in the last few days about the UK and myself with regards to Kenya’s elections. For the avoidance of doubt, I want to categorically reiterate that the UK does not support or have a view on any candidates or parties in elections,” Marriott said in part 1 of 3 of her tweet.
“Who Kenyans elect is a matter for the people of Kenya. We meet people from across the political spectrum to explain the UK’s programmes and partnership with Kenya, including independent institutions,” Marriott continued. “The international community put out a statement on the process, which I fully support. Kenya will remain a vital partner for the UK through our Strategic Partnership.”
Her conciliatory gesture was met by a sharp rebuke from the Queen of The North and Azimio darling Hezena Lemaletian, popularly known as the Queen of The North.
“And why were you telling our team that Ruto has won elections and Raila was refusing to concede defeat way before the elections were announced? Personally, I was very disappointed in you. Kenya deserves its independence. We are a Sovereign State!” Lemaletian said in a tweet.
Lemaletian stuck to her guns when another Twitter user defended Marriott that she was spreading unverified rumors.
“I was there, Physically, besides her at Bomas. I am speaking about what I heard with my ears and saw with my eyes. I am not reporting!!!! I have no apologies. Truth is truth!” Lemaletian said.
Marriott has not responded to the Queen of The North.
The international community has maintained a neutral position regarding the election pending a decision by the Supreme Court.
In a joint statement Marriott posted on Twitter, the foreign missions commended Kenyans for remaining peaceful after the election results announcement.
“We encourage all political parties and leaders to follow all existing mechanisms for dispute resolution as laid out by the constitution of Kenya,” read the message, signed by the UK, Denmark, Australia, Germany, and Canada, among others, primarily European nations.
Azimio presidential candidate Raila Odinga and his running mate filed a petition Monday, challenging the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairman Wafula Chebukati’s decision to declare Ruto the winner.
Chebukati declared Deputy President William Ruto the winner of the election on August 15. And in a historical first, most of the commissioners disputed.