William Ruto And His Misunderstandings

William Ruto, the President of Kenya, claimed that tea was being shipped to Sudan despite the embargo.

"Incidentally, we continue to sell tea to Sudan, even though they claimed they weren't buying our tea. The market itself forced them to do so. We are selling tea to Sudan today, so there is no problem, and that's why we are making money in the tea sector," Ruto claimed. Sudan dismissed this as "unfounded and inaccurate," citing the trade embargo as part of its economic and diplomatic strategy. Sudan's response was unequivocal! "The Embassy of the Republic of Sudan in Nairobi wishes to clarify Sudan's trade policy regarding imports from Kenya. On March 11, 2025, the Sudanese Ministry of Trade and Supply issued a decree suspending all imports from Kenya in line with Sudan's national interest. The decision was fully implemented, and since then, no Kenyan products, including Kenyan tea, have been imported into Sudan," the statement read. Kenya was a major trading partner. A range of goods were exported, with tea being the top export, followed by coffee, tobacco, soaps, electrical appliances, and pharmaceuticals. Sudan's decision to suspend imports stems from Kenya's decision to accept leaders of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group in conflict with the Sudanese government. This is not the first time Ruto has twisted the facts to his advantage. Germany was the first time Ruto has claimed something that never happened. William Ruto visited Germany in September 2024 and signed a comprehensive migration and mobility agreement with Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Ruto claimed that this agreement would create 250,000 jobs for Kenyans in Germany. However, the German government has dismissed these figures as false, emphasizing that the agreement does not contain fixed figures or quotas. The agreement is intended to bring skilled workers from Kenya to Germany while also regulating the repatriation of illegal migrants. That was nothing! He should have been better informed. The number of unemployed in December 2024 was approximately 2.807 million, an increase of 33,000 compared to the previous month. In November 2024, unemployment fell to 2.774 million, while the rate was 5.9%. Despite the rising unemployment figures, employment subject to social security contributions reached a new high of 35.23 million in October 2024. Europe is facing an economically challenging situation. Germany, a key economic driver, is experiencing a prolonged period of weakness that could lead to a third consecutive year of recession in 2025. The European automotive industry is struggling with stagnating demand and high risks. Despite these challenges, some analysts forecast slight growth of around 0.8% for the eurozone in 2025. However, uncertainty remains high, and economic policy and geopolitical developments significantly influence forecasts. https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/national/article/2001515283/not-true-sudan-denies-rutos-claim-on-tea-imports