Farah Maalim Defends President Ruto, Dismisses Claims of Possible U.S. Arrest
Former Kenyan MP Farah Maalim has strongly defended President William Ruto against claims that the United States could arrest him, dismissing the suggestion as unrealistic and an affront to Kenya’s sovereignty.
In a viral video statement circulating on social media, Maalim reacted sharply to remarks by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who recently urged U.S. President Donald Trump to investigate and potentially arrest Ruto over alleged corruption and money-laundering links. Gachagua likened such action to U.S. measures previously taken against leaders in countries such as Venezuela.
Maalim, a vocal ally of President Ruto, rejected the idea outright, arguing that any attempt by the United States to arrest a sitting Kenyan president would be impossible. To underscore his point, he drew a historical parallel to the failed 1993 U.S. military operation in Mogadishu, Somalia, famously known as the “Black Hawk Down” incident.
“The USA can’t even attempt to capture President William Samoei Ruto,” Maalim said in the video. “They tried it with Somalia [referring to warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid], and they saw fire. If it could not happen in Mogadishu, it can’t happen to Ruto.”
Maalim emphasized Kenya’s status as a sovereign nation, suggesting that international powers cannot simply act against its leadership without severe consequences. By invoking the Mogadishu battle—where U.S. forces suffered heavy losses while attempting to capture Aidid—he framed Gachagua’s call as both reckless and detached from geopolitical reality.
The comments have sparked debate online, with supporters viewing Maalim’s remarks as a robust defense of national sovereignty, while critics argue that comparisons to military operations distract from the substance of corruption allegations raised by Ruto’s opponents.
As political tensions continue to simmer, the exchange highlights deepening divisions within Kenya’s political class and the increasingly international tone being adopted in domestic political battles.
