Kenyan President Ruto… In the Eye of the Storm

Sudan Events – Agencies

“Playing with fire” – Most Kenyan newspapers have attacked President William Ruto over his decision to allow the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia and its supporters to hold an event aimed at forming a parallel government to Sudan’s legitimate government, led by Chairman of the Sovereign Council, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.

It appears that Ruto’s business interests with RSF leader Hemedti—who shares gold trade ventures with the Kenyan president—may be influencing his stance. Reports suggest that Ruto owns a mining company in Sudan and that Hemedti financed Ruto’s election campaign with millions of dollars in August 2022.

The fierce backlash against Kenya for hosting the RSF’s parallel government event seems to have led to repeated delays in its announcement. Initially scheduled for February 17, it was postponed to February 18, then to February 21 (Friday), and again to Saturday. The announcement has yet to be made due to mounting pressure from Sudan, the U.S., several African nations, and international and regional organizations such as the African Union, IGAD, and the Arab League. Meanwhile, the UAE is exerting pressure to ensure the government’s declaration by engaging with the Kenyan government, offering incentives, and dispatching high-level intelligence delegations to Nairobi to resolve internal disagreements among RSF representatives over “power-sharing.” Some speculate that the government may be announced only on paper.

Ruto’s Recklessness

Kenyan President William Ruto has faced widespread criticism in his country for hosting the RSF event. Kenyan politician and former Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, Mukhisa Kituyi, accused Ruto of making a “reckless departure from Kenya’s traditional diplomatic caution.”

Speaking to AFP, Kituyi said that Ruto was “legitimizing a criminal gang that has been massacring people,” describing the move as “irresponsible to the point of criminality.”

Playing with Fire

Similarly, the Kenyan Parliament condemned Ruto’s actions. The Daily Nation, Kenya’s largest newspaper, ran a front-page cover featuring RSF leader Hemedti with the headline “Playing with Fire,” referring to Ruto’s controversial decision to host the RSF-backed parallel government event.

Additionally, 12 Kenyan and African organizations denounced Kenya’s hosting of the RSF meetings, labeling it a threat to Sudan’s unity and a danger to Africa as a whole. These organizations urged the African Union’s Peace and Security Council to issue an immediate condemnation, call on Kenya to withdraw recognition of the RSF, and declare its members “undesirable persons.” They also demanded that Kenya apologize to Sudan.

An Accomplice in Crimes

According to international human rights organizations, Kenya’s hosting of the RSF violates its commitments under the UN and African Union charters, effectively making it “an accomplice in crimes” committed against Sudanese civilians.

In a joint statement, organizations including the African Initiative for the Horn of Africa and the Kenyan Human Rights Commission said that Kenya’s actions undermined the African Union’s mediation efforts, particularly the work of its High-Level Panel.

The statement was co-signed by 12 Kenyan and international organizations, including the Africa Atrocities Watch, the African Lawyers Association, and the African Center for Open Governance, all calling for Kenya to be held accountable.

Escalation

The Sudanese government is considering severing diplomatic ties with Kenya. Sudan’s Sovereign Council and Council of Ministers have formed a committee to assess available options. Meanwhile, Sudan’s Foreign Ministry has recalled its ambassador from Kenya “for consultations”—a move widely seen as a precursor to cutting ties.

In a statement, the Sudanese Foreign Ministry condemned Kenya for hosting RSF meetings, calling the act “hostile towards Sudan.” The ministry urged Nairobi to abandon its “dangerous path,” warning that it threatens regional peace and security while fostering terrorism and genocide.

The Sudanese government had earlier accused Kenya’s leadership of “harboring and encouraging a conspiracy” to establish an RSF-led government.

U.S. Threatens Kenya

The escalation is not limited to Sudan. U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch criticized Kenya’s stance on the Sudanese crisis, accusing it of helping the RSF “legitimize its genocidal rule under the guise of peace efforts.”

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Risch referenced his role in a 2023 congressional push to formally recognize the RSF’s atrocities—resulting in over 150,000 deaths—as genocide.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has exerted pressure on Ruto, expressing America’s rejection of any RSF-led parallel government. Washington officially designates the RSF as perpetrators of genocide against Sudanese civilians.

Rubio reportedly called Ruto to discuss the Sudanese situation. Ruto, in an attempt to justify his actions, claimed that he was “providing a platform for Sudanese dialogue” to achieve sustainable peace.

Fake IGAD Statement

On another note, IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development) denied supporting the RSF’s government initiative, dismissing a widely circulated statement attributing such a stance to IGAD as “fabricated.”

According to the Kenyan news outlet Kenyans, IGAD released an official statement clarifying that the circulating letter, which claims it endorsed Ruto’s meeting with RSF leaders, was “fake and does not reflect the organization’s official position.”

IGAD reaffirmed its commitment to a peaceful resolution of the Sudanese crisis, insisting that it does not side with any party in the conflict.

Kenya Will Pay the Price

Amani Al-Tawil, a researcher at the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, warned that Kenya “will pay a heavy price in terms of its internal security due to its involvement in Sudan’s crisis,” referring to Nairobi’s decision to host RSF-backed government formation events.

The Secret Behind Ruto and Hemedti’s Ties

Kenyan media outlets have highlighted financial and economic partnerships between Ruto and Hemedti, particularly in the gold mining sector. Additionally, sources claim that Hemedti financed Ruto’s election campaign.

Reports further suggest that Ruto made a secret trip to Sudan in 2020 aboard a private jet operated by Phoenix Aviation, during which he visited multiple gold mining sites.

Sources also claim that the connection between Hemedti and Ruto was facilitated by former Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, who has long-standing ties with Ruto due to their past work in international organizations.

Conclusion

Perhaps Ruto has prioritized the RSF’s and the UAE’s money and gold over his country’s diplomatic standing and future. However, his actions could have severe consequences for him and Kenya alike.