Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused President William Ruto of engaging in the gold trade through a partnership with Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) leader, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti.
Gachagua alleged that Ruto’s 2023 invitation to Hemedti was for personal business interests rather than Kenya’s benefit.
He claimed he was responsible for bringing Hemedti to Kenya but was excluded from the private meeting between the two leaders at State House in Nairobi.
“If the discussions had concerned Kenya’s interests, I would have been part of them. Instead, after the meeting, I was only tasked with escorting him to the airport. That’s when I inquired and discovered that they are involved in the gold business,” Gachagua revealed in an NTV interview on Monday.
According to him, gold from Sudan is transported to Nairobi before being shipped to Dubai. He criticized Ruto’s dealings with RSF, a group under international sanctions, warning that such associations tarnish Kenya’s global reputation and weaken its diplomatic standing.
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“President Ruto must remember he won’t be in office forever. He should prioritize national interests over personal gains. Kenya’s image is at risk because RSF has been sanctioned for genocide and atrocities against children,” Gachagua stated.
He further claimed that Kenya’s involvement with RSF has strained its trade relations, with Sudan allegedly threatening to halt tea imports from Kenya. Additionally, he argued that Ruto’s leadership has led to deteriorating ties with African nations, citing Kenya’s handling of the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) conflict.
“Many African leaders are reluctant to participate in peace initiatives led by Ruto due to concerns over his personal and commercial interests,” Gachagua added.
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