Mudavadi: Kenya Will Not Take Sides in Middle East Conflict

Kenya has reaffirmed its neutral stance in the escalating Middle East conflict, calling for dialogue, restraint, and multilateral cooperation.

Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs Minister Musalia Mudavadi delivered the statement in London at Chatham House, emphasising that Kenya has not aligned with any party in the crisis. He highlighted the government’s priority of protecting more than 500,000 Kenyan nationals living and working in the region.

Mudavadi’s remarks follow President William Ruto’s recent criticism of Iran’s retaliatory strikes against Gulf states, which stopped short of condemning Israel or the United States. The government’s approach seeks to balance principled neutrality with concern over actions that could destabilise the region.

In his speech, titled Kenya’s Expanding Foreign Policy Interests in a Changing World Order, Mudavadi framed the Middle East crisis as part of wider challenges facing African states. He warned that disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of global oil passes, could have significant economic consequences for energy supply, trade, and air travel. 

“Our region, still facing threats from terrorism, must remain vigilant during this crisis,” he said.

Mudavadi also highlighted Africa’s need to diversify supply chains and accelerate economic integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area. He urged a faster transition to renewable energy, suggesting that the continent could reduce its vulnerability to external shocks through solar, geothermal, and hydro power. 

He appealed to OPEC to consider the impact of Middle East instability on African economies. Beyond the current crisis, Mudavadi warned that other urgent issues risk being overlooked. He cited Sudan’s ongoing humanitarian emergency, which has received less global attention as focus shifts to the Middle East, a pattern he compared to past conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine.