President William Ruto has formally endorsed former U.S. President Donald Trump’s offer to intervene in the Sudan conflict, calling the situation a “very serious humanitarian catastrophe.” Ruto expressed his support during a press conference with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Nairobi, drawing parallels between Malaysia’s regional peace efforts and Kenya’s role in Eastern Africa.
This endorsement follows a series of diplomatic moves from the U.S., including a call between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the UAE Foreign Minister to discuss a joint ceasefire effort.
Trump had previously pledged to address the war after a request from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Ruto’s statement also serves as a rebuttal to earlier accusations from U.S. lawmakers that Kenya was enabling the conflict by granting the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) a platform. Ruto has consistently denied these claims as “false and politically motivated,” insisting Kenya’s role is solely to promote peace and dialogue.
The civil war in Sudan, which began in April 2023, has created one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters. The UN has recorded over 3,384 civilian deaths in the first half of 2025 alone, putting the country on track to exceed last year’s death toll.
By James Kisoo
