Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has launched a stinging rebuke against the Kenyan government following the U.S. Congress’s move to review Kenya’s designation as a major non-NATO ally. The review stems from a Bill introduced by U.S. Senator James Risch, Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, aimed at reassessing the strategic status granted to Kenya in June 2024.
Gachagua warned that Kenya faces the risk of international isolation, accusing the current regime of harboring individuals and entities under U.S. sanctions some of whom are allegedly linked to extremist groups. “We warned you about Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces and Al-Shabaab. We asked you to keep international criminals and foreign terrorist organisations out of Kenya,” Gachagua said in a strongly worded statement on Tuesday.
He took issue with Kenya’s decision to host meetings involving Sudan’s rebel Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Nairobi earlier this year gatherings that led to the declaration of a parallel government. The meetings sparked outrage in Khartoum, which accused Kenya of violating Sudanese sovereignty and the principles of non-interference.
Gachagua further accused the Kenyan government of turning the country into a financial safe haven for individuals flagged by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), and warned that such actions undermine Kenya’s credibility on the global stage.
More seriously, Gachagua alleged misuse of U.S. intelligence and military assistance, claiming it is being used to commit human rights violations. He cited an uptick in reports of extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances, illegal detentions, and police brutality, asserting that the government is using state power to suppress dissent.
“There is growing concern that the Government of Kenya is using U.S. security support to abduct, torture, and commit violence against civilians,” he stated.
With the U.S. now closely monitoring Kenya’s counterterrorism record and human rights performance, Gachagua urged the Kenyan diaspora in America to speak out. “I urge Kenyans in the diaspora to engage with your senators and share the truth about what’s happening in our beloved nation,” he said.
He warned that failure to address these growing concerns could jeopardize Kenya’s vital partnerships with the U.S. and the broader international community.
