Junet Mohamed apologises over remarks against Senator Isaac Mwaura amidst criticism

Junet Mohamed apologises over remarks against Senator Isaac Mwaura amidst criticism

Suna East Member of Parliament Junet Mohamed has issued an apology to people born with albinism amidst criticism over his perceived offensive remarks directed towards Nominated Senator Isaac Mwaura.

Junet, speaking during a Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) popularization campaign in Turkana County on Saturday, accused Senator Mwaura of being a political conman.

According to the National Assembly Minority Whip, Mwaura has been using the colour of his skin to gain political mileage.

“Siku hizi tena nimeona anatembea na mtu mwingine ambaye mimi nilikuwa nafikiria ni mlemavu, kumbe yeye ni mzungu ambaye….sasa tunataka katiba ibadilishwe wazungu wote wakuwe kama walemavu…huyu mtu anaitwa Isaac Mwaura, mimi nilikuwa nafikiri yeye ni mlemavu ambaye anafaa asaidiwe, kumbe yeye ni mzungu ambaye ni nyeupe tu…sijui alipaka hii colour ya bleaching ili apate nomination,” said Junet.

— Carole Kimutai (@CaroleKimutai) February 6, 2021

Persons with disabilities on Sunday came out to strongly condemn the MP’s remarks calling them demeaning and demanding that he apologises or they would file a formal complaint against him with the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

“We wish to condemn in the strongest of terms the remarks by Junet Mohamed that Senator Isaac Mwaura bleached his skin in order to be nominated to Parliament. This is not only an affront to the person and character of the distinguished Senator as our representative, but it is also an abuse on the dignity of all of us collectively,” they said in a joint statement.

“To insinuate that Senator Mwaura bleached his skin in order to get nominated to Parliament is not only discrimination on the basis of colour and disability, but also is to incite members of the public against them especially little innocent children in school who have to endure a lot of ridicule from peers and members of the community.”

— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) February 7, 2021

Junet has since taken to social media to express remorse over the remarks saying they were not directed at all people with albinism but specifically at Senator Mwaura.

“I want to apologize to people born with albinism. My comments in no way reflects my opinions of them as upstanding citizens of our county. My comments were directed at the rotten character of Isaac Mwaura who exploits his disability for personal gain and incitement of violence,” he wrote.

— Hon. Junet Mohamed, CBS (@JunetMohamed) February 7, 2021

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Junet Mohamed Isaac Mwaura albinism Persons with Disabilities

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