Kenya today accused Western envoys of "shameless blackmail" and "gross condescension" for trying to pressure the head of the electoral commission out of his job over the chaotic presidential poll.
Local media reported this week that US and European Union ambassadors visited Samuel Kivuitu, chairman of the Electoral Commission of Kenya, to urge his resignation or face a travel ban to their countries.
But some diplomatic sources said no such direct confrontation took place, though Western nations do support the recommendation of an independent inquiry that the commission be totally overhauled due its failures during the December vote.
Widespread irregularities and a disputed result led to two months of violence that killed at least 1,300 people and effectively paralysed east Africa's largest economy. Public wrath after the crisis has focused on Mr Kivuitu, with many Kenyans demanding the resignation of him and his team.
Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula said he was outraged by the "audacious and blatant breach of protocol" by some ambassadors in their behaviour towards Mr Kivuitu.
"It is unacceptable for an ambassador accredited to Kenya to physically walk into an office of a holder of a constitutional office and directly confront him with the aim of attempting to force his resignation," he said.
"Such shameless blackmail, applied through open disregard of established norms of conduct of diplomats, in favour of a style and tone reminiscent of colonial mindset, is an insult to the Kenyan public."
Mr Wetangula said President Mwai Kibaki's government would not tolerate such "a pattern of activism".
"I urge these individuals, who continue to demonstrate this grossly condescending behaviour, to respect the proven ability of Kenyans to deal with this internal matter."
The diplomatic sources said Wetangula was exaggerating the matter and unfairly scoring points with the Kenyan public by playing the anti-colonial card.
Reuters