NAIROBI, Kenya- Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has launched a scathing attack on President William Ruto’s administration, warning that Kenya risks losing its newly conferred Non-NATO Major Ally (MNNA) status with the United States due to alleged ties with terrorist groups, foreign criminal networks, and gross human rights violations.
Gachagua, currently on a two-month tour of the United States, was reacting to a Bill introduced by Senator James Risch, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, seeking a comprehensive review of Kenya’s MNNA designation granted on June 24, 2024.
The Bill questions the Kenyan Government’s alleged associations with non-state armed groups and violent extremist organizations, including Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and al-Shabaab.
It also raises concerns over Kenya’s role as a financial safe haven for individuals and entities on the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctions list, including some based in neighboring countries.
“Under Mr. William Ruto, Kenya has become a financial safe haven for individuals and entities on the OFAC Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons list and foreign terrorist organizations,” said Gachagua in a statement issued from Texas.
The U.S. Bill mandates a 90 to 180-day period within which the Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, and the Director of National Intelligence must submit a report to the Senate detailing:
- Kenya’s security cooperation with extremist or criminal groups,
- Any misuse of U.S. military or intelligence aid,
- The impact of Kenyan security actions on civilians, including alleged extrajudicial killings, abductions, and torture.
Gachagua directly blamed President Ruto for “shaming Kenya internationally” and accused the administration of sponsoring militia violence, police brutality, illegal detentions, and the suppression of civil liberties.
“We warned you on Sudan’s RSF and al-Shabaab. We asked you to bar international crooks and terrorist organizations from Kenya. Now the consequences have reached Washington,” Gachagua charged.
He appealed to Kenyans living in the U.S. to actively engage with their Senators, providing documentation and testimony on the alleged state-backed violations in Kenya.
The former DP also warned that if the U.S. revokes Kenya’s MNNA status, the country stands to lose critical military training opportunities, intelligence-sharing arrangements, regional peacekeeping roles, and strategic defense cooperation with Washington.
“We will not sit pretty and watch our country slip into anarchy, cynicism, and dictatorship,” he stated.
The statement is part of Gachagua’s direct attacks on his former boss, marking a significant escalation in political tensions back home as international scrutiny grows.
The U.S. granted Kenya MNNA status during President Ruto’s state visit in June 2024, making it the first Sub-Saharan African country to receive the designation.
The status was seen as a major diplomatic win for Nairobi, unlocking access to defense funding, military technology, and joint training initiatives.
However, the current Senate Bill could reverse that recognition if the alleged violations are confirmed.
