NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 8 – Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Mudavadi has affirmed Kenya’s commitment to supporting humanitarian efforts in Sudan, despite Khartoum’s recent move to suspend Kenyan imports, including tea.
Speaking Tuesday during a quarterly diplomatic briefing, Mudavadi said Kenya remains steadfast in offering humanitarian aid to Sudan in good faith.
He maintained that Nairobi will not allow trade disputes to interfere with critical support for the Sudanese people, who are facing a deepening crisis.
“We know they say Kenyan tea should not go there [Sudan], but that is a trade issue,” said Mudavadi.
“On the part of Kenya, we want to state that in spite of all these challenges, humanitarian efforts that take place in Sudan—logistics, supplies—will continue, and Kenya shall not in any way interfere with that process.”
He stressed that Kenya’s position is rooted in goodwill and guided by its longstanding role in regional peace and humanitarian diplomacy.
“Whatever humanitarian activities are in support of the people of Sudan, where there’s a serious humanitarian crisis, Kenya will continue to play its role in the international arena to support those efforts.”
Mudavadi also refuted allegations that Kenya facilitated the formation of a parallel government for Sudanese factions within its borders.
He dismissed the claims as misinformation, noting that the charter signed by Sudanese parties in Nairobi contains no such provision.
“There has been some misinformation that a parallel government of Sudan has been formed in Kenya. That is not true,” he clarified.
“We have had a chance to look at their documentation, and there’s no such wording.”
He called on observers to differentiate between the concept of “self-determination” and attempts to form a separatist state.
“In a number of constitutions in the region, the terminology ‘self-determination’ appears,” said Mudavadi.
“This should not be misconstrued as Kenya supporting secession. We stand for a peaceful, unified Sudan.”
The CS reiterated Kenya’s belief in inclusive dialogue, urging that Sudan’s future should not be shaped by military leaders alone.
“The debate on Sudan should not be a dialogue of the generals alone. What about civil society, political parties, and other Sudanese stakeholders? They, too, must have a seat at the table.”
Mudavadi reaffirmed Kenya’s history as a neutral facilitator in peace processes across Africa, referencing its roles in Angola, South Sudan, and Somalia.
“We shall continue to encourage peaceful conversations. But we shall not form governments in exile in Nairobi—those must be determined by the people themselves,” he emphasized.
His remarks come in the wake of a diplomatic spat between Kenya and Sudan after Khartoum suspended imports from Nairobi on March 11, 2025.
The Sudanese government cited Kenya’s decision to host representatives of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) who signed a controversial charter in February, as the reason for the trade embargo.
In a statement released on April 1, the Sudanese Embassy in Nairobi reaffirmed the enforcement of the ban, dismissing recent claims by President William Ruto that Kenyan tea continues to reach Sudan through market forces.
“This decision has been fully implemented, and since then, no Kenyan products, including Kenyan tea, have been imported into Sudan,” the embassy stated, calling contrary reports “unfounded and inaccurate.”
Sudan maintained that the suspension was a sovereign decision taken in line with its national interests and emphasized its commitment to regional cooperation based on mutual respect and non-interference.
The suspension of Kenyan imports by Sudan has sparked concerns among local traders, given that the East African nation is one of the top buyers of Kenyan tea.