President William Ruto has dismissed claims linking him to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), denying claims that his administration was involved in arms smuggling or supporting either side in the ongoing conflict that has worsened the humanitarian situation in Sudan.

In an interview with an international TV station, published on Sunday, November 9, 2025, Ruto described the accusations as false and politically motivated, insisting that Kenya’s role has remained consistent with promoting peace and dialogue across the region.

“Kenya is a great democracy in the region. We are the only place where people can come and meet freely. The meeting that was there was one of civil society, church groups, women, and leaders having a conversation about their country. Such meetings have been held in other countries, too,” Ruto explained.

Additionally, Ruto refuted reports that the RSF had been hosted in Nairobi, following claims by Sudan’s government that Kenya was harbouring rebel elements. He maintained that Kenya remains a democratic country that welcomes all peace-loving groups.

He argued that Nairobi has often been unfairly targeted, noting that similar gatherings have taken place in neighbouring nations, including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), without the same level of scrutiny.

“That is not true; that is absolutely false. I can tell you that as a democratic country, there are always allegations. The DRC accused us of having hosted some people in Nairobi. People are meeting in Nairobi whom I sometimes do not even know if they are meeting,” he stated.

This comes after former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua slammed President Ruto for allowing Sudan’s rebel group RSF to hold a meeting in Nairobi.

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According to the second deputy president, Ruto’s actions have tarnished Kenya’s reputation on the global stage.

Speaking during a live interview on Monday, February 24, 2025, Gachagua said that allowing the RSF, a group that has been sanctioned globally for its involvement in genocide, to hold meetings in government facilities in Kenya’s capital is reckless.

He went on to say that Ruto’s decisions are deeply concerning and are taking the country in the wrong direction, adding that Kenya has always upheld a policy of non-interference in the affairs of other nations.

“In all fairness, President William Ruto has messed this country in the national eye. He is doing all the wrong things. We have a policy of non-interference with the affairs of other countries.

“We cannot allow rebels who have been slapped with international sanctions because of genocide to meet in government facilities in Nairobi, and it is putting Kenya in a very bad light. That group, RSF, has been flagged by the international communities,” Gachagua said.

The president further clarified that Kenya’s approach is rooted in encouraging dialogue among conflicting parties rather than taking sides, reaffirming that the country remains neutral in Sudan’s political crisis.

He also weighed in on the nature of the conflict, asserting that both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF were equally responsible for the turmoil engulfing the country.

“On Sudan, I hold the position that both SAF and RSF are cut from the same cloth. They are a product of an overthrow of a people’s government, and therefore, you cannot say there is any difference between the two,” he said.

“My position is that these two generals have no solution to the Sudan crisis because both of them believe that they have to use military means to settle the situation. This is a governance problem,” Ruto noted.