President Ruto has issued a strong public response to the rapidly escalating war in the Middle East, sparked by a major military confrontation with the US, Iran and Israel. He stated on March 2nd, 2026, where he condemned the aerial and missile strikes that have hit multiple Gulf and Middle Eastern nations, warning that the widening conflict poses a great threat to international peace and security.
The president’s comments came as Iranian forces launched widespread retaliatory strikes on countries including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain following the coordinated US- Israeli military actions in Iranian territory that resulted in the death of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other officials.
The president also appealed for diplomacy over further confrontation and also emphasized the importance of long-standing multilateral institutions in resolving crises and urged urgent multi-stakeholder engagement towards de-escalation.
The statement, however, has drawn mixed reactions. Some politicians like Esther Pssaris defended President Ruto’s sentiments as consistent with Kenya’s foreign policy principles wihile others criticised him for aligning too closely with US positions.
President Ruto’s intervention comes amid growing concerns about disruptions to global supply chains, economic ties with the Gulf region and the safety of thousands of Kenyan nationals working abroad as the war continues to unfold.
