President William Ruto has issued a firm statement condemning the recent wave of military strikes sweeping several Gulf states, warning that the widening conflict in the Middle East “poses a grave threat to international peace and security.”
In remarks released on Monday, the head of state strongly denounced attacks on the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain, all of which have been affected as tensions spiral following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and subsequent Iranian retaliatory missile and drone launches across the region.
“The regionalisation of this conflict poses a grave threat to international peace and security,” Ruto said, highlighting deepening instability that has disrupted civilian life, commercial routes and diplomatic relations throughout the Gulf.
Analysts say the escalation began after a major U.S.–Israeli offensive on Iranian targets triggered a series of retaliatory strikes hitting military and strategic sites in several Middle Eastern countries.
Ruto underscored the importance of multilateral institutions as frameworks for dialogue and conflict resolution, urging all parties to return to diplomatic engagement.
“At this defining and perilous moment in global history, longstanding multilateral institutions remain indispensable frameworks for the resolution of the current crisis in the Middle East,” the president stated.
The Kenyan government has also been working to protect its citizens abroad amid the crisis. With hundreds of thousands of Kenyans residing and working across the Gulf, officials previously issued advisories urging caution and compliance with local security protocols as hostilities intensified.
President Ruto called for urgent multi‑stakeholder engagement towards de‑escalation, urging international partners to prioritise negotiation over confrontation.
He framed Kenya’s position around respect for sovereignty and international law, stressing that military conflict threatens global peace and economic stability.
The Middle East conflict continues to unfold, with world leaders and regional actors intensifying calls for restraint and diplomatic solutions to avert broader regional destabilisation.