Kenyan president hails Gülen-inspired schools in his country


Date posted: April 8, 2014

ANKARA

Kenyan President Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta has praised the schools run in his country by the Hizmet (Service) network, backed by U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen who is in severe rift with the Turkish government.

“We believe that Turkey’s investments in Kenya are extremely positive. We want even more Turkish investors and Turkish companies to come to Kenya and reach out to the whole of Africa, beyond the Kenyan market,” Kenyatta said on April 8 at a joint press conference following talks with Turkish President Abdullah Gül in Ankara.

“Investments in the schools field are quite big and it is an issue that we appreciate,” Kenyatta added, also calling on Turkish investors to expand their activities into the fields of energy, infrastructure, construction, housing, tourism and textiles.

Kenyatta’s visit is the first ever presidential-level visit from Kenya to Turkey, and reciprocates Gül’s first official visit to Kenya, which took place in 2009. During his 2009 visit, Gül also attended opening of a school run by the Hizmet.

Nevertheless, on the day when the Kenyan president voiced appreciation for Gülen-backed schools, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan suggested that, through his March 30 local election victory, the Turkish people had given the mandate to his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) to eliminate what he calls the “parallel state.”

AKP officials repeatedly accuse members of the Gülen community, also known as the Hizmet Movement, of infiltrating the police and the judiciary of plotting against the government.

The Gülen movement has recently cited various examples of official Turkish pressure on foreign governments to shut down Gülen schools, a key source of its influence and revenue at home and abroad. It says the government has recently moved to discourage Hizmet-linked commerce from engaging in projects from banking to construction.

Source: Hurriyet Daily , April 8, 2014


Related News

Erdoğan media’s accusations against Gülen and Hizmet

Amost all of the same lies [against Gülen] are now repeated almost verbatim by the TV channels and newspapers under the control of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

‘Portraying Hizmet against settlement process groundless’

In an interview with the Zaman daily last week, GYV vice president Cemal Uşak categorically denied the aspersions that have been cast on the Hizmet movement on social media for a couple of years and in conventional media for the last three months that claim that the Hizmet movement has been against the settlement process.

Turkish ambassador leads an unrealistic mission: bringing a reclusive Muslim cleric before Turkish courts

Although Turkey immediately blamed Gulen for the coup attempt, it took Ankara nearly six weeks to make a formal request for his extradition — and that was based on earlier alleged crimes, not for his supposed role in the coup.

Terrorist investigation against Kimse Yok Mu draws strong reactions

A shocking investigation being conducted by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office against prominent charity organization Kimse Yok Mu on charges of terrorism has been met with strong reactions from experts, who question how a charity can be accused of terrorism for delivering aid to those in need.

Turkey’s Erdoğan Regime Extends Post-Coup Witch Hunt Targeting Gülen Followers Abroad

Turkey, under the autocratic rule of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has stepped up its witch hunt against the alleged members of Gülen movement abroad, pro-Erdoğan English paper Daily Sabah reported. So far, 16 alleged Gülen followers have been abducted or caught abroad and transferred to Turkey from Asian, Middle Eastern countries and Bulgaria.

Blinded by envious rivalry

Süleyman Sargın* 7 June 2012 The volunteers of the Hizmet Movement do not expect appreciation from anyone. Their highest ideal is that humanity can live in a world dominated by love and peace. The fidelity of Anatolian people makes them forget about all their trials and tribulations, yet the lack of fidelity from certain friends […]

Latest News

Fethullah Gulen – man of education, peace and dialogue – passes away

Fethullah Gülen’s Condolence Message for South African Human Rights Defender Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Hizmet Movement Declares Core Values with Unified Voice

Ankara systematically tortures supporters of Gülen movement, Kurds, Turkey Tribunal rapporteurs say

Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?

Devious Use of International Organizations to Persecute Dissidents Abroad: The Erdogan Case

A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook

Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?

Purge-victim man sent back to prison over Gulen links despite stage 4 cancer diagnosis

In Case You Missed It

Handcuffed justice

Was there a sincere alliance between the Gulen Movement and Erdogan?

Turkish School Leader Abducted, and Released, in Mongolia

Ex-Pentagon advisor says Turkey is heading towards civil conflict, if not civil war

Third suspicious disappearance in a week: Teacher dismissed in post-coup crackdown not seen for 14 days

Kimse Yok Mu continues relief efforts in Gaza

Stuttgart police: ‘Boycotts of Gülen-friendly shops are potential hate crimes’

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News