The Kenyan government has announced it is pulling out its peacekeepers serving in the UN mission in South Sudan.

It says the action was prompted by the decision of the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to sack force commander Lt Gen Johnson Mogoa Kimani Ondieki.

General Ondieki is a Kenyan national and was sacked after a UN special investigation confirmed that the mission failed to protect civilians during the violence in Juba in July.

The Kenyan Daily Nation quoted the foreign affairs official Principal Secretary, Monica Juma, as saying the decision lacked transparency and did not involve any formal consultation with the government.

Mr Monica describes the sacking as unfortunate, saying Lt Gen Ondieki was personally not to blame for what it called “systemic disfunctionality” within UN.

It “revealed a high degree of disrespect for our country”.

“Consequently, it’s apparent to the government of Kenya that the continued deployment of its troops in South Sudan is no longer tenable and is inimical to their safety and wellbeing,” read a statement.

The UN officials say they obviously value the Kenyan military and police contributions to peacekeeping operations in South Sudan.