Kenya's recently celebrated status as a Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) to the United States is now under threat, with the US Congress pushing for investigations into President William Ruto’s administration. Concerns over alleged extrajudicial killings, abductions of protesters, and controversial links to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have triggered a formal reassessment of the partnership in Washington, raising questions about the future of this strategic alliance.
Kenya secured the MNNA designation, which was granted on June 24, 2024, during President Ruto’s state visit to the USA in May. The status was meant to deepen bilateral ties in defense, security, and economic areas, cementing Kenya's role as a key US partner in Africa. However, a series of recent developments in Nairobi have led to a swift and serious backlash from US legislators.
Leading the charge is Idaho Senator Jim Risch, a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He has proposed amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act for the 2026 financial year that would compel the US government to investigate Kenya’s conduct. Risch's proposal seeks to examine whether Kenya has used American security assistance and intelligence in ways that undermine US interests, specifically in the repression of civilians. The amendment explicitly calls for an "assessment of the use by the government of Kenya of US security assistance and intelligence support and sharing, including potential impacts on state and non-state sponsored actions against civilians, to include abductions, torture, renditions and violence against civilians."
The proposed review would cover all Kenyan activities since the MNNA designation in June 2024. At the heart of the congressional concerns are grave human rights violations allegedly committed during anti-government protests in 2024 and 2025. According to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), at least 128 people have been killed, over 1,400 arrested, and nearly 100 abducted, with some still missing. The proposal also highlights Kenya's alleged role in the abduction of seven Turkish nationals in October 2024, who were seized in Nairobi after criticizing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and were subsequently deported to Turkiye despite some having refugee status.
Adding to the scrutiny are concerns over President Ruto's engagement with Sudan's RSF. In February 2025, RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, also known as "Hemedti" and who is sanctioned by the US Treasury, visited Nairobi and announced plans to establish a parallel government in Sudan. The visit, hosted under the IGAD peace framework chaired by Ruto, drew sharp criticism from Sudan’s transitional government, which accused Kenya of siding with the RSF. The congressional proposal suggests that Kenyan officials may have assisted blacklisted individuals, including RSF members, in stashing money in Kenyan financial systems.
As a result, US lawmakers are now questioning Kenya's role as a reliable partner. This scrutiny puts the Ruto administration in a difficult position, requiring it to answer serious questions on both its human rights record and its foreign policy engagements. The MNNA status, which was meant to be a crowning achievement, has now become a source of intense international pressure, highlighting the delicate balance between national sovereignty and international alliances. The outcome of these investigations could redefine the US-Kenya relationship for years to come.
