NAIROBI—Garissa County Woman Representative has distanced herself from claims that “she pledged loyalty to President Farmajo and the Republic of Somalia” by fixing “the portrait of President Farmajo and the flag of Somalia in her parliament office.”
The photo shows Anab Subow sitted in what appears to be an office set-up with the potrait of President Mohamed Abdullahi and the flag of Somalia seen in the background.
Speaking to Kulan Post, Anab dismissed the rumours that was circulating on social media in the better part of the week where she was accused of “pledging loyalty to Somalia” amid worsening dipolomaic tiff between the two countries.
“That photo was taken two years ago during an event at the Somali embassy in Nairobi,” Anab said. She wondered why the photo appeared “suddenly.”
“I am a Kenyan leader and my loyalty is with the Republic of Kenya,” she assured.
Anab stated that she previously visited other embassies in Kenya as well as foreign nation in her capacity as representative of her role in parliament as well as in private capacity.
“It did not raise an eyebrow then and it should not do now,” she noted.
Somalia-Kenya diplomatic row
Somalia on Tuesday said it will withdraw its diplomats from Kenya and has given Kenyan diplomats seven days to leave Mogadishu.
Information minister Osman Abukar Dubbe said Somali’s Mogadishu-based government was recalling its diplomatic staff from Kenya and was giving Kenyan diplomats seven days to leave Somalia.
Dubbe did not specify the nub of the latest tiff between Mogadishu and Nairobi but accused Kenya’s “current leadership” of carry out “recurring outright” interference in Somalia, while describing the people of Kenya as “peace-loving.”
The rift follows a reported visit to Nairobi by Muse Bihi Abdi, the president of the self-proclaimed independent Somaliland, in Somalia’s far north.
Kenya said it will form a high level committee to resolve the diplomatic impasse.
