Putin’s administration issues warning over Kenya

dennis kibet

July 26, 2017 7:52 AM

Russia's warning comes only 12 days to the election.

Russia has sent a cautionary message to its citizens warning over a possible flare up of violence in relation to the August polls.

The Russian Foreign Ministry in a tweet said that “on the eve of the General Election, protests are possible”.

Kremlin also mentioned the dawn-to-dusk curfews in place in parts of Mandera, Garissa, Lamu and Tana River.

Acting Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiangi imposed the curfew on the four counties in response to a barrage of attacks by Al Shabaab terrorists.

The latest warning by Russia will prove a major headache for the Kenyan Government after similar one issued by theUnited Kingdom’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office earlier this week.

The UK had again issued another travel warning in June this year.

Already the United States, France, Spain, Sweden, Canada and Australia have all issued travel warnings to its citizens on Kenya’s elections which are only 12 days away.

During his tour of Beijing in May for the Belt and Road Forum, President Uhuru Kenyatta met with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in the first face-to-face meeting between these two leaders.

Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed said the meeting signalled the start of what could be renewed engagements with Russia, an influential country in the United Nations.

According to the Federal Customs Service of Russia, last year, Russia's exports to Kenya were estimated to be worth $130.36 million, mainly consisting of steel, rubber, chemicals, solar panels, and small quantities of consumer goods.

Kenya, on the other hand, exported goods worth $137.5 million mainly tea, coffee and flowers.

Russia is currently the only country among the five Permanent Members of the UN which Kenya enjoys a favourable trade deficit.

dennis kibet