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Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Dr Alfred Mutua has lauded Romania’s move to recall its ambassador to Kenya Dragos Tigau.

Tigau likened Africans to monkeys by saying that “the African group has joined us” when he saw a monkey outside a window.

Mutua, who termed the incident as shocking, said that the government has been in a conversation with the African Group, UN and Romanian Government over the same.

“I thank the Romanian Government for recalling its envoy to Nairobi after he made disparaging & racist remarks against Africans and all Black people. We have been in conversation with the African Group, UN and Romanian Government since this shocking and despicable occurrence,” Mutua stated.

“The envoy’s government has done the only right thing they could do. All African & black people will not accept derogatory treatment that we have endured for centuries to continue being propagated anywhere. Respect for all races and cultures is not an option but a must for all.”

Romania recalls envoy

On Saturday, Romania announced that it had begun “a procedure to recall its ambassador”.

“We deeply regret this situation and offer our apologies to all those who have been affected,” a statement from Romania’s foreign affairs ministry read.

“Any behaviours or comments of a racist nature are completely unacceptable,” it added, saying it hoped it would not affect its ties with African countries.

In 2014, Romania’s ambassador to Armenia was recalled after making anti-Semitic jokes about Jewish bosses and questioning the morality of same-sex relationships.