Speaker Justin Muturi clashes with Ambassador Kyle McCarter during security conference

National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi on Monday clashed with United States Ambassador to Kenya Kyle McCarter over a recent block by the US in classifying Al Shabaab as a terror group.

The two spoke during the two-day 15th edition of the Parliamentary Security-Intelligence forum hosted at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).

Speaker Muturi termed the decision by the US as a blow dealt to all the gains that have so far been made in combating terrorism in the world.

Speaker Justin Muturi clashes with Ambassador Kyle McCarter during Parliamentary Security-Intelligence global conference Pulse Live Kenya

"I have in mind the recent decision by the USA to refuse to declare Al Shabaab a terrorist organisation, and therefore, to the extent that it continues to be considered as a legitimate group of human right crusaders in Somalia, then they are at liberty to receive financing from all sources including from civil society groups and NGOs that could themselves be recipient of funding from even taxpayers," Speaker Muturi noted.

Amb. Kyle McCarter clashes with Speaker Muturi

In response, Amb. McCarter cautioned that the Speaker may have made assertions that are unfounded.

"This is talked about often but never any proof is given. We understand that any aid, there times when we have leakages but we have made very clear under (Resolution) 751, that Al Shabaab are terrorists and we will use everything within that Resolution to degrade them.

"Let us be very clear, the US has declared the Al Shabaab (are) terrorists and there is no commitment that you can find any greater, than the US and how that we have worked together with Kenya to decimate Al Shabaab. The commitment has been there for a long time, it remains there and it will continue to be there until we end this terrorist attack on Kenya and the region," he stated.