Kenya dismisses war fears as Mudavadi quashes claims of Uganda ‘overrunning’ the country
Mudavadi noted that Kenya has consistently upheld protocols guaranteeing access to the ocean for neighbours such as Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and South Sudan, a policy that has helped sustain peace and trade relations within the EAC.
The government has dismissed fears of military tension with Uganda, stating that Kenya has no intention of going to war and remains committed to regional peace and cooperation.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi told the National Assembly that claims suggesting Uganda plans to “overrun Kenya” are unfounded, emphasising that Nairobi remains focused on diplomacy and regional trade relations.
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Mudavadi was responding to concerns raised by Suba South MP Caroli Omondi, who sought clarification on circulating reports that Uganda intended to seize access to the Indian Ocean.
“Mr Speaker, could the Prime Cabinet Secretary inform the House on what steps the government has taken to address the recent claims by Uganda that they want to overrun Kenya and take the Indian Ocean…,” Omondi asked.
He referenced Uganda’s alleged history of “military adventurism” in countries including South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Somalia, and Burundi.
Guided by international law
In reply, Mudavadi stressed that Kenya’s actions are guided by international law and long-standing commitments to regional cooperation.
“I just want to say that there are conventions and obligations which deal with landlocked countries, and the African Union Constitutive Act is one of such instruments,” he said.
“So, I want to assure you that we are not going to go to war. We as a country have always provided safe passage and free passage for goods from landlocked countries, and we are not about to change that, because it is our international obligation, but also it is how we grow the bonds in our region.”
Mudavadi noted that Kenya has consistently upheld protocols guaranteeing access to the ocean for neighbours such as Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and South Sudan, a policy that has helped sustain peace and trade relations within the East African Community. He also stressed that Kenya would not be drawn into speculative or provocative statements.
Assure MPs of their safety
Omondi further asked Mudavadi to assure MPs of their safety ahead of the inter-parliamentary games scheduled in Uganda in two weeks, prompting laughter in the chamber.
“I just want to assure him that they’ll be safe when they go to Uganda for the inter-parliamentary sports,” Mudavadi replied.
The Speaker intervened to note that there was “no evidence to the contrary” regarding their safety, while Speaker Wetang’ula observed that Omondi seemed to be providing “comic relief.”
The concerns follow remarks by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on November 11, 2025, when he insisted that Uganda, as a landlocked country, has a right to access the Indian Ocean.
Museveni likened Africa’s political borders to a block of flats where only those on the ground floor could use the compound.
“How can you say that you are in a block of flats and that the compound belongs to only the flats on the ground floor? The compound belongs to the whole block. All the flats are entitled to the compound,” he said.
“My ocean is the Indian Ocean. It really belongs to me. I’m on the top floor of the block, and then you say the compound belongs only to the ones on the ground floor. This is madness.”
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