President William Ruto on Wednesday maintained that Kenya will continue to vote independently on international matters, including against the US if need be, if the two countries' interests did not align.
Speaking during an interview with AlJazeera, President Ruto, responding to a question on Kenya's stand in the Palestine conflict affirmed that Kenya will adopt her own geopolitical stand despite Kenya's growing diplomatic closeness with Washington.
“Our position is very clear. We speak for ourselves, we think for ourselves and we drive our own point, added Ruto.
He further stated that he was responsible for Kenya’s stand on global matters but not her allied states.
“The position of Kenya is known, it is not for me to decide the position of the US, stated Ruto.
In regards to Kenya’s allegiance to Israel, the President stated that Kenya's belief was that the conflict would be solved amicably and violence witnessed recently in the Gaza Trip would be averted and peace restored.
The President was keen to affirm Kenya’s position of Palestine being an independent state, a decision which the country has enforced by voting thrice in favour of Palestine at the United Nations (UN).
Additionally, during the interview, the President stated that Kenya’s peacekeeping missions centred around having the opinions of both warring parties considered.
He pointed to Sudan’s crisis where Kenya had been accused of siding with a rebel group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), stating that Kenya needed to adopt a neutral stance.
“I know too well from experience, if you want to make peace you do not speak with friends, you speak with enemies, and you speak to all sides,” stated Ruto.
Further, the President stated that Kenya would continue to lead peacekeeping missions emphasising that Kenya’s acumen in leading similar missions guaranteed success.
Ruto argued that Kenya was chosen to handle the Haiti mission following its success in other similar engagements.
