Kenya’s President William Ruto has issued a public apology to Uganda, acknowledging rising diplomatic tensions between the two nations and urging renewed efforts to restore harmony, respect and cooperation within the East African region.
Speaking during the National Prayer Breakfast held at Safari Park on Wednesday, Ruto publicly reached out to Ugandans, asking for forgiveness in light of recent incidents that may have strained bilateral relations.
His remarks come amid controversy surrounding the arrest of Ugandan opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye and 37 other Ugandan nationals in Kisumu, Kenya — a move that has ignited accusations against the Kenyan government of complicity in their detention and subsequent treason and terrorism charges in Uganda.
“To our brothers and sisters in Uganda, if there is anything we have done — knowingly or unknowingly that has caused offence or jeopardized our friendship, we seek your forgiveness,” President Ruto said.
“Kenya values our relationship with Uganda, and we are committed to nurturing peace and cooperation between our peoples.”
The apology comes at a time when Ruto’s administration is under fire both at home and abroad.
Domestically, the government has been grappling with intense criticism over soaring taxation, economic mismanagement, and allegations of corruption.
The fallout from the 2024 anti-tax protests which saw Kenyan youth killed by police continues to cast a dark shadow over the administration’s legitimacy.
Regionally, tensions have escalated following Kenya’s efforts to assist illegal deportation of a Tanzania popular activist after abduction in Nairobi and the controversial arrests in Kisumu, which have been widely interpreted as Kenyan complicity in the crackdown on dissents from neighbouring countries.
Ugandan and Kenyan legislators have exchanged harsh words over the incident, fueling fears of a diplomatic rift.
Ruto used the platform not only to express remorse to Uganda but also to issue a broader appeal for reconciliation, including with Tanzania another nation with which Kenyans have recently clashed.
He also turned inward, apologizing to Kenyan youth, many of whom remain disillusioned with his government.
“To our young people, we recognize your frustrations. If we have failed you, we apologize. We want to rebuild trust and shape a future where every Kenyan feels seen and heard,” Ruto stated.
The president called for unity and healing across the region, insisting that his government is on a mission to rise from past missteps and forge stronger, more respectful ties both within Kenya and across East Africa.
“I believe in the promise of Kenya. But that promise is only real if we choose the path of building bridges, not walls,” he said. “Our strength lies in our unity as a nation, and as a region.”
