President William Ruto has reaffirmed Kenya’s recognition of Palestine and its commitment to the two-state solution as the path to lasting peace in the Middle East. Speaking on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, Ruto emphasized Kenya’s long-standing position in supporting peace and stability in the region.
“We support the pursuit of lasting stability in the Middle East through a two-state solution, where Israel and Palestine live side by side in mutual respect and peaceful coexistence. Kenya has recognized the statehood of Palestine since 1989,” Ruto said.
His remarks come as the Israel-Palestine conflict continues to escalate, particularly in Gaza, where violence has persisted since October 2023. Ruto stressed the need for immediate de-escalation and renewed dialogue to restore calm.
Kenya’s recognition of Palestine aligns with the position of most African nations. According to the World Population Review, 52 out of 54 African countries—except Cameroon and Eritrea—formally recognize Palestinian statehood. The African Union has also consistently advocated for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
Palestinian statehood was first declared in 1988 by Yasser Arafat in Algeria, making it the first African country to recognize Palestine. Since then, the majority of African nations and many countries worldwide have followed suit.
Globally, recognition of Palestine has gained fresh momentum. France recently joined the list of nations acknowledging Palestinian statehood, alongside countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Portugal, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Malta. In total, 147 of the 193 UN member states now recognize Palestine.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has also urged renewed commitment to the two-state solution, calling it the “only viable path to peace.” He underlined that Palestinian statehood must be seen as a right, not a concession.
With international voices growing louder in support of Palestinian self-determination, Ruto’s statement underscores Kenya’s alignment with global and African calls for peaceful coexistence in the Middle East.
