President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya has faced criticism on Twitter from Burundians who accuse him of supporting President Pierre Nkurunziza's controversial third term in office. The criticism comes amid ongoing deadly post-election violence in Burundi.
Burundians took to Twitter using the hashtag #SomeoneTellUhuru after President Kenyatta met with Nkurunziza's allies at State House in Nairobi. The hashtag gained traction after some Kenyans joined in on Monday.
President Kenyatta tweeted that he was informed the government of President Nkurunziza and the opposition had agreed to work together for the interest of their country. However, some Burundians interpreted this as an endorsement by President Kenyatta, disregarding the continued loss of lives preceding and following the July presidential election.
According to reports, President Nkurunziza garnered 69.41 percent of the votes, and dozens have been killed in the violence that has forced over 175,000 people to seek refuge in neighboring countries.
Twitter Reaction ¶
#SomeoneTellUhuru that he may have escaped the ICC case but he won't escape Moral Judgement from victims of #BurundiCrimes. — Steve NDIKUMWENAYO (@ndikumwenayo)
#SomeoneTellUhuru People of Burundi are tired of thieves, criminals, mediocre & unscrupulous leaders like #Nkurunziza. — President Onevoice ™ (@OnevoiceEA)
Response and Consequences ¶
The tweets reflect the outrage and frustration felt by many Burundians towards President Kenyatta's perceived support for President Nkurunziza. The situation highlights the complexities of regional politics and the challenges of navigating diplomatic relationships while addressing human rights concerns.
