Israeli Embassy Speaks on “Denying” Visas for DP Ruto, Wife Rachel

The Israeli Embassy has responded to misleading media reports that it denied DP Ruto and his wife Rachel visas to gain entry into their country.

In a statement on Wednesday, Israeli ambassador to Kenya Noah Gal Gendler explained that DP Ruto and Rachel hold diplomatic passports and, therefore, do not require visas to travel to Israel.

The warm friendship of Kenya and Israel has enabled both the governments to exempt visas for diplomatic passport holders and therefore H E Deputy President Ruto and his wife do not require visas to travel to Israel,” Gendler said.

The diplomat further faulted local publications that ran the fake news without verification from the Embassy.

“The Embassy of Israel feels aggrieved by the false story which is baseless and without a doubt irresponsible for any news channel, even one that wants to remain relevant,” Gendler, who is also the Ambassador of Israel to Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi and Seychelles added.

Noah Gal Gendler also asked the online publication that carried the story- Kenyalivenews – to apologise to Kenya, Israel and the embassy for the false report.

The ambassador did not comment on claims by the same site that the Israeli government had withdrawn funding from the Galana Kulalu irrigation project due to graft at the National Irrigation Board.