President Donald Trump during his inauguration on Monday 20th January, 2025 // Photo courtesy
Kenyan – born US – based human rights advocate Dr. Isaac Newton Kinity on January 20th, attended President Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony.
The seasoned human rights defender was invited to the high end event by the Trump Vence Inauguration Committee through a letter dated January 15, The invitation came through a letter dated January 15, 2024.
Speaking to The Nyanza Review virtually from Connecticut state in the United States of America, the former Secretary General of the Kenya Civil Servants Union said hat the gesture from the White House was a great honor.
Kinity expressed high expectations for Trump’s second – term administration and more especially, the new policies which he believes will bring hope to countries like Kenya which is grappling with corruption, human rights abuses and poor governance.
He highlighted Kenya as a nation in need of these reforms, citing rampant extrajudicial killings, abductions and mismanagement of public funds as critical issues.
“The new policies bring hope to the citizens of nations like Kenya, where extrajudicial killings, abductions, looting of loans borrowed, grants and the taxes collected have been taking place with impunity.” He said
Dr. Kinity took the opportunity to call out Kenyan leaders, including Oscar Sudi, for their controversial statements and actions, referencing Sudi’s recent claim about plans to rig the next Kenyan elections in favor of President William Ruto, an assertion that has fueled public outrage.
He expressed hope that the Trump administration would prioritize policies that champion democracy, transparency and accountability in nations like Kenya, offering relief to citizens living under oppressive regimes.
Kinity defended President Trump’s immigration policies, which have often been criticized. He acknowledged that while some perceive these policies negatively, they reflect foresight and an effort to maintain order. Highlighting the risk of opening borders to uncontrolled immigration.
“If U.S. borders were left open for just one year, the influx of immigrants could exceed two billion, resulting in chaos, crime and economic instability.” he argued.
However, he also called for necessary modifications to ensure a balance between security and the nation’s historic role as a haven for immigrants.
The Chairman of the Kikimo Foundation for Corruption and Poverty Eradication praised the United States for its unique green card lottery system, which provides opportunities for people from across the world, including Kenya, to live and work in the U.S.
He called for global recognition of the U.S.’s role in supporting immigrants while urging for structured reforms to immigration policies.
President William Ruto did not attend the event with many sources speculating that the head of state had not been invited.
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