KANSAS, U.S. – Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has vowed to hand over what he terms “incriminating evidence” against President William Ruto to American authorities, amid a widening U.S. Senate investigation into the Kenyan leader’s alleged links to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group accused of atrocities in the ongoing Sudanese conflict.
Speaking during a public engagement in Olathe, Kansas, where he is currently residing on a two-month visit, Gachagua said he is cooperating with U.S. officials to provide firsthand information about Ruto’s alleged dealings with RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemedti.
“I was there when those meetings happened. I have the details, and I am sharing them with the Americans. Ruto, you cannot run from this,” Gachagua declared to a gathering of Kenyan diaspora and U.S. political observers. “The Americans have heard the cries of the Kenyan people.”
U.S. Probes Ruto’s Alleged Links to RSF and Protest Crackdowns
The U.S. Senate launched the investigation following reports that Kenya played host to RSF officials earlier this year.
The Sudanese government accused Nairobi of violating diplomatic norms, while international human rights organizations raised alarm over Kenya’s possible complicity in aiding a force accused of war crimes, including mass killings and ethnic cleansing.
Also under scrutiny is Kenya’s response to youth-led protests between June 2024 and July 2025, particularly the violent crackdown during the Saba Saba Day commemorations.
Rights groups documented abductions, unlawful detentions, and excessive use of force, incidents that have now drawn international concern.
Gachagua, who served as Ruto’s deputy before their bitter falling out, suggested that the president’s recent public remarks about strained U.S.-Kenya relations were an attempt to deflect from the core issue.
“Ruto is trying to hide behind China, claiming that’s why the Americans are after him. But this is not about China—it’s about his business links with Hemedti and the RSF,” he said. “Supplying weapons to a terrorist militia that kills women and children cannot be dismissed as geopolitics.”
Al-Shabaab Allegations and Security Concerns
In an explosive claim, Gachagua also alleged that President Ruto held a secret meeting with al-Shabaab operatives in Mandera, a move he said raises grave national and international security concerns.
He further criticized the government’s suspension of vetting procedures for foreign nationals applying for Kenyan identification documents, warning that the policy could enable terrorists to gain legal cover and access to global networks.
“The Americans are worried that suspected terrorists can now acquire Kenyan IDs and use them to enter other countries, including the U.S. That’s a direct threat to international security,” he said.
A Turning Point in Kenya-U.S. Relations?
The developments mark a significant escalation in tensions between Nairobi and Washington, and place President Ruto in an increasingly precarious position on the global stage.
While the Kenyan government has not officially responded to the U.S. investigation or Gachagua’s claims, State House insiders have dismissed the allegations as politically motivated.
Gachagua, however, insists that this time accountability will not be easily evaded.
“You may manipulate the Kenyan people, but not the American government. They’re watching, and they mean business,” he warned. “This is not about politics; it’s about justice, human rights, and global safety.”
