By Ashlee Banks
Special to the AFRO
Members of the U.S. House of Representatives are blasting House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) after he refused to invite Kenyan President William Ruto to address a joint session of Congress last week, instead extending that invitation to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“Speaker Johnson has been incredibly disrespectful to the country of Kenya and to the Kenyan president,” said U.S. Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.) “This is an ally, a strategic partner on the continent of Africa who has been working in the DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo), they’ve also been dealing with the challenges in Somalia, they have been trying to address the issues in Chad and they are on the front lines in Haiti.”
The California lawmaker added, “We have done nothing to support them and then this speaker decided to disinvite this strategic partner from talking before a joint session of Congress.”
U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., is opposed to Netanyahu’s visit given that he is being accused of committing war crimes amid the Israel-Hamas conflict that has killed more than 35,000 Palestinians – mostly women and children.
“I just don’t think it’s constructive for Netanyahu to be doing a joint address in this moment,” said Ocasio-Cortez.
Conversely, U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) is not averse to Netanyahu addressing Congress. Yet, she does believe Johnson needs to be inclusive when extending an invitation to world leaders.
“I believe if we’re having other countries’ leaders come in and address Congress, then why are others rejected, like the president of Kenya,” said Greene. “I don’t understand that. If we’re bringing in other countries’ leaders then we definitely should’ve had the president of Kenya.”
Johnson said last week that he is coordinating with Netanyahu on a date. Once confirmed, he will inform members of Congress. This will be the Israeli prime minister’s fourth time addressing congressional members.
Although President Ruto was unable to address a joint session of Congress last week, he received a warm welcome from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), members of the Congressional Black Caucus, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.