Kenya’s leadership has continued to face questions about its position in the ongoing Sudan conflict, and President William Ruto has now responded by welcoming U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to step in. The crisis in Sudan has dragged on for more than two years and has created one of the worst humanitarian situations in the region, leaving millions displaced and thousands dead.
Ruto acknowledged the seriousness of the situation while emphasizing that Kenya supports any effort that could help ease the suffering of Sudanese civilians.
During a joint press briefing at State House Nairobi with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Ruto compared the roles different countries play in regional peace.
He highlighted Malaysia’s work in Eastern Asia and pointed out that Kenya has long been involved in supporting peace efforts in Eastern Africa, from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Sudan. This was the setting in which he expressed support for Trump’s move to intervene, saying the crisis had become a major humanitarian catastrophe that needed urgent attention.
The U.S. has already shown renewed interest in the matter. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently held discussions with the UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan on how to push for a humanitarian ceasefire. The talks followed Trump’s public statements promising to get involved after a request from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Trump repeated this commitment both at the Saudi Investment Forum in Washington, DC, and on his Truth Social platform, sending signals that Washington may take a more active role in trying to calm the conflict.
These developments come after earlier pressure from some U.S. lawmakers. Senator Jim Risch had accused Kenya of enabling genocide after claims surfaced that Nairobi had allowed Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces to hold meetings in Kenya aimed at setting up a parallel government.
Rapid Support Forces leader Hamdan Dagalo. Photo Courtesy. | File.
The accusations sparked heated debate, but months later Ruto pushed back strongly. He denied any involvement with the RSF, dismissed the allegations of arms smuggling, and insisted that Kenya had not taken sides in the war.
In an interview with Al Jazeera in November, Ruto said the claims were politically driven and did not reflect Kenya’s real intentions. He said Kenya had only provided space for discussions involving civil society, religious groups, women, and community leaders, which he described as normal dialogues that happen in different countries.
He stressed that Kenya’s position has always been to promote peace and encourage dialogue between all parties.
Ruto also shared his view that both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF share responsibility for the violence. The civil war, which began in April 2023, continues to devastate the country. Major cities like Khartoum remain contested, and civilians have faced the worst of the fighting. Reports from the United Nations show at least 3,384 civilian deaths recorded between January and June 2025, with fears that the number could exceed the 4,238 deaths reported in 2024 if the conflict continues without intervention.
Trump’s involvement, combined with Kenya’s support for a coordinated international push, may bring new attention to the crisis, though the effectiveness of these efforts remains to be seen.
