Commonwealth envoy reamed over Maldives pres motorcade comment

Commonwealth special envoy Dr Willy Mutunga was reamed on Twitter, after the former Kenyan chief justice commented on the presidential motorcade as one of his observations on his recent visit to the archipelago.

Mutunga who retired last month was appointed as the special envoy to the Maldives where he made a four day visit to the island nation before leaving earlier this month.

After his visit, Mutunga on Tuesday on Twitter announced three observations he made during the visit.

"Three observations on the Maldives : beautiful islands and clean waters around them; malaria free; a presidential motorcade of TWO vehicles," the Tweet read.

The Tweet sparked a social media storm when opposition supporters rallied to lambaste the envoy.

There r obviously2 Maldives-- u missed the one that 400,000 people live in! : former foreign minister Dr Ahmed Shaheed

just 2 years on the dictator has had 3 Vice Presidents, 3 Defense Ministers, 10 minsters, 2 Auditor Generals... Observed, Sir? MDP lawmaker Imthiyaz Fahmy

Sir, ur tweet is a slap on the face of majority of #Maldivians fighting against #corruption & #injustice which u failed 2 observe: MDP lawmaker Rozaina Adam

Some people said the envoy would not see the real Maldives staying in a luxury tourist resort.

@WMutunga April 2015, Amnesty International-human rights in the Maldives have "been seriously eroded & are at risk of further deterioration": MDP lawmaker Eva Abdulla

The envoy looked to calm the outcry with an attempt to explain his comment.

"I need to add that I was in the Maldives for four days only. I saw the presidential motorcade only once during one of the parades," Mutunga said in a second Tweet.

Mutunga’s mandate is to “consult with all relevant stakeholders to encourage the strengthening of a pluralist, multi-party democracy, steps towards credible and inclusive presidential elections in 2018 and the advancement of reforms to give full effect to the separation of powers,” according to the Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth has described Mutunga as a reformist and an academic with “an expansive career in the areas of constitutional reform, mediation and coalition building.”

“The overarching mandate is to support a sustainable political dialogue process leading to a stronger climate of pluralism and inclusive elections in 2018,” Dr Mutunga was quoted by the Kenyan media shortly after his appointment.