Nairobi, Kenya – SWITCH MEDIA
Kenya’s Former Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua, has launched a scathing attack on President William Ruto following a US Senate bill that could jeopardise Kenya’s special military and diplomatic status with the United States.
The bill, sponsored by Senator James Risch – the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee — seeks to review Kenya’s designation as a Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA), a title granted just over a year ago on 24 June 2024.
According to the proposed legislation, the review is triggered by concerns over Kenya’s alleged ties to non-state armed groups and extremist organisations. These include Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and al-Shabaab, a Somalia-based terror group affiliated with al-Qaeda.
The bill also questions whether US security assistance and intelligence shared with Kenya could be misused – potentially contributing to human rights abuses like abductions, torture, and state-sponsored violence.
In a strongly worded post on X (formerly Twitter), Gachagua accused President Ruto of allowing “impunity” to spiral out of control. He warned that under Ruto’s leadership, Kenya had become “a financial safe haven” for individuals and groups listed by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) – including those sanctioned for terrorism and corruption.
“Mr. William Ruto, we warned you on Sudan’s RSF and Al-Shabaab. We asked you to bar international crooks and foreign terrorist organizations and individuals from Kenya,” Gachagua wrote.
He further blamed Ruto’s administration for tolerating extrajudicial killings, police brutality, forced disappearances, and other human rights violations.
“Kenyans asked you to stop extrajudicial killings… and blatant abuse of human rights,” Gachagua said, accusing the government of using militias and state forces to stifle dissent.
The US bill gives a 90 to 180-day window for the Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, and the Director of National Intelligence to report back on Kenya’s status and ties to flagged groups.
If passed, the bill could result in the downgrading or revocation of Kenya’s Major Non-NATO Ally status. Such a move would put at risk crucial defense agreements, training partnerships, and Kenya’s strategic role in regional security operations.
Gachagua called on Kenyans living in the US to contact their local senators with “facts and information” to strengthen the case against the Ruto administration.
“We will not sit pretty and watch our country slip into anarchy, cynicism, and dictatorship,” he declared.
State House has not officially responded to Gachagua’s remarks or to the contents of the US bill. However, sources close to the administration say the government is closely monitoring the situation and intends to issue a formal statement once diplomatic consultations are complete.
Analysts warn that if Kenya’s status is downgraded, it could severely affect military cooperation and its growing role in stabilising the Horn of Africa.
“This designation isn’t just symbolic — it comes with access to military funding, joint training, and advanced weapons systems. Losing it would be a major blow,” said a senior regional security expert who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
The episode is likely to fuel further tensions between Gachagua and Ruto, whose relationship has grown increasingly strained in recent months. It also places fresh international scrutiny on Kenya’s internal governance and foreign policy decisions.
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