NAIROBI, Kenya — Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has dismissed accusations that Kenya has been supporting Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in their ongoing conflict with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).
In an interview with the BBC on Tuesday, Mudavadi reiterated that Kenya remains neutral in the war and has acted solely as a center for mediation, encouraging peaceful dialogue among the parties involved.
“We only encourage peaceful conversations for peaceful resolutions. That is the extent to which Kenya has been engaged with the various parties in Sudan,” Mudavadi stated.
Mudavadi’s comments came after former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua linked President William Ruto to the RSF’s operations, suggesting that Kenya was complicit in supporting the paramilitary group.
Mudavadi rejected these accusations, stating, “Leave him out of it,” referring to Gachagua’s remarks.
He further added that Gachagua’s grievances, which stem from his impeachment by Parliament, should not be used to make unfounded claims.
On the controversy surrounding a meeting held in Nairobi in March, Mudavadi clarified that Kenya hosted a session for RSF representatives to discuss their transitional constitution, but he refuted any claims of Kenya being involved in the formation of a parallel government.
“That is not true at all,” he emphasized, adding that Kenya’s stance is to support one united Sudan.
Mudavadi also reaffirmed Kenya’s position at the London-Sudan Conference, where international representatives, including those from the European Union and African Union, gathered to pledge humanitarian aid to Sudan.
The country’s war, which erupted on April 15, 2023, has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions, with widespread reports of human rights abuses, including sexual violence and beheadings of civilians.
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who attended the conference, condemned the international community’s failure to act sooner.
“Many have given up on Sudan – that is wrong,” he said, stressing the importance of continued international attention to the crisis.
Mudavadi’s statements come amid rising tensions, with Gachagua’s claims about President Ruto allegedly being involved in illegal gold trade with RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti, gaining attention.
However, Ruto has not yet publicly responded to these accusations.
