Deputy President William Ruto has been asked to stand with his friend Omar Al Bashir, even as the ousted Sudanese dictator comes to terms with reality.
Ruto visited Sudan as latest as November last year where he held talks with Al Bashir. He also toured the Kenana Sugar factory and sugar cane plantations and also addressed Kenyan businessmen and students living in Sudan.
Al Bashir, a criminal wanted by the ICC, was toppled by the Sudanese military on Thursday after months of protests by the people of Sudan.
Formerly an army officer, he seized power in a military coup in 1989. His rule has been marked by civil war. The civil conflict with the south of the country ended in 2005 and South Sudan became independent in 2011.
And it is not only Ruto that has been left with egg on his face, President Uhuru Kenyatta graced Al Bashir’s inauguration ceremony in June 2015.
This is despite the fact that the main opposition parties had boycotted the ceremony.
In October 2016, Uhuru also made a two day official visit to Khartoum, for bilateral talks.
In February, Uhuru hosted Sudanese Vice President Osman Mohammed Yousif at State House where he said that he was “happy to know that Sudan is handling matters well and that the situation in the country is under control.”
“Kenya will continue to support Sudan as it manages its internal affairs.” Uhuru said in the midst of the uprising that would later topple the dictator.
The Jubilee government has a lot of explanation to tell the people of Sudan after siding with their oppressor for so long.