Gachagua: Ruto is in a Gold Business With RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused President William Ruto of benefiting from a gold business through his association with Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) leader, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti.
According to Gachagua, Ruto’s invitation to Hemedti in 2023 was driven by personal interests rather than the nation’s welfare.
He revealed that he was assigned to invite the RSF chief and personally received him at State House in Nairobi. However, he was excluded from the closed-door meeting between the two leaders.
Gachagua later escorted Hemedti to the airport and inquired about the discussions, where he was informed that they were engaged in business dealings. He stated that the gold obtained from conflict areas is transported to Nairobi before being exported to Dubai.
Gachagua strongly condemned Ruto’s leadership, asserting that his involvement with RSF, a group under international sanctions, is tarnishing Kenya’s global reputation and damaging diplomatic relations.
He argued that Ruto should prioritize national interests over personal and commercial gains, emphasizing that the president will not hold office indefinitely and should not jeopardize Kenya’s standing in the international community.
He pointed out that RSF has been sanctioned for committing genocide and killing children.
He also linked Ruto’s relationship with RSF to Sudan’s threats of halting Kenyan tea exports, further complicating diplomatic ties.
Additionally, Gachagua claimed that Ruto’s handling of the conflict in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has alienated other African leaders.
According to him, many African presidents are hesitant to engage in peace initiatives led by Ruto due to his commercial and personal entanglements.
Kenya’s Controversial Hosting of RSF and Regional Tensions
Despite backlash from Sudan’s government, Kenya defended its decision to host RSF in Nairobi on February 18. The RSF used the occasion to launch a parallel government, a move criticized for potentially worsening Sudan’s already fragile situation.
Recently, RSF has gained significant ground in Khartoum, advancing towards the symbolic presidential palace along the Nile.
The group controls much of western Sudan and is intensifying efforts to dominate the Darfur region, particularly by capturing al-Fashir. Sudanese leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has ruled out a ceasefire during Ramadan unless RSF halts its offensive in Darfur.
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The conflict between RSF and Sudan’s army erupted in April 2023 due to disagreements over integrating the two forces.
Initially, both factions had collaborated to remove civilian leadership following the ousting of autocrat Omar al-Bashir. However, their rivalry has since plunged Sudan into chaos.
The presence of RSF in Kenya has raised concerns over Ruto’s administration, with critics questioning the government’s commitment to maintaining diplomatic integrity.
Gachagua: Ruto is in a Gold Business With RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo
