NAIROBI, Kenya – Mandera North MP Bashir Abdullah has made a U-turn on his controversial remarks about the deaths of Kenyan youth during the June 25, 2024 anti-government protests.
The remarks, which came after the release of the BBC Africa Eye documentary “Blood Parliament,” caused an uproar across the country, prompting the MP to clarify his position on X.
In his post, the MP explained that his now-viral statement, “we sympathize and move on,” was taken out of context and did not represent the true spirit of his intentions.
“I have observed with concern the public reaction to a phrase attributed to me during a recent Parliamentary session,” Abdullah wrote. “While the phrase has gone viral, it has unfortunately been taken out of context and does not reflect the intent or spirit of my remarks.”
The MP clarified that his comments had been made after the tragic deaths of youth who were killed during protests against the Finance Bill 2024.
2.3 Million Watch BBC Exposé on June 25 Protest Shootings in Just 24 Hours ynews.digital/newsflash/2-3-…
He pointed out that on that day, the Kenyan Parliament had expressed solidarity with the affected families.
“At no point did I intend to dismiss or downplay the profound loss that occurred,” he emphasized, adding that he, too, mourned the loss of young lives.
Abdullah expressed his deep sorrow for the killings, saying: “As a father, as a leader, and as a citizen of this nation, I am deeply pained by the killing of our young people—many of whom only sought to voice their frustrations peacefully, with courage and hope.”
He further emphasized that he does not and will never support the unjust killings.
The controversy arose after Abdullah commented on the BBC documentary, which accused Kenyan police officers of being responsible for the deaths of at least three protesters.
Abdullah had claimed that the documentary, which analyzed over 5,000 images to piece together the sequence of events on June 25, was discriminatory and that “people die all the time around the world.”
He referenced the January 6 U.S. Capitol attack and global violence, using it as an example to downplay the Kenyan deaths.
Abdullah stated, “We sympathized, we moved on. People were killed in the U.S. at Capitol Hill, BBC World Service never took the opportunity to say something. It happened in London, they never said it.”
His remarks were met with backlash, with many questioning his insensitivity to the grief of the affected families.
In his latest statement, the MP reaffirmed his support for justice, calling for an independent investigation into the killings.
“I support the call for an independent investigation into the events of June 25, and I demand that those responsible be held accountable,” he said.
Abdullah also addressed the hurt caused by his words, offering a heartfelt apology to those who were affected by the killings.
“If my words hurt the bereaved families or any Kenyan, I offer my deepest and unconditional apology,” he wrote, emphasizing the importance of servant leadership in addressing the nation’s concerns.
The MP concluded his post by reflecting on the role of faith in times of grief.
Citing a verse from the Holy Qur’an, Abdullah reminded Kenyans of the divine nature of death: “When their appointed time comes, they can neither delay it by a single moment, nor can they advance it.” (Surah Al-A’raf, 7:34).
However, he emphasized that while divine decree is accepted, justice must be pursued on earth.
The BBC exposé, which was blocked by Kenyan authorities from screening at the Nairobi Cinema, continues to be a focal point of debate on the state of human rights, police accountability, and freedom of the press in Kenya.
ClarificationFellow Kenyans,Over the past few days, I have observed with concern the public reaction to a phrase attributed to me during a recent Parliamentary session—“we sympathize and move on.” While the phrase has gone viral, it has unfortunately been taken out of context
