Azimio La Umoja leader Raila Odinga has condemned President William Ruto's denunciation of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).

Raila noted that it was unconstitutional for the president to denounce a country without consulting the Cabinet.

"To sever relations with the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic is unconstitutional since it was done without the approval of the Cabinet," Raila stated. 

In addition, the former prime minister said the onesided move paints Kenya in a bad light to the international community.

The President of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic Brahim Ghali (left) being received at JKIA by Amb. Arthur Andambi on Tuesday, September 13, 2022

TWITTER MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS KENYA By Maureen Njeri, Kenyans.co.ke

"The unilateral decisions are hurting the image of Kenya," Raila added. 

Ruto on Wednesday, September 14, declared that Kenya does not recognize Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) as an independent state.

"At State House in Nairobi, received a congratulatory message from His Majesty King Mohammed VI. Kenya rescinds its recognition of the SADR and initiates steps to wind down the entity’s presence in the country," the president said in a tweet that has since been deleted.

The major diplomatic stand came a day after the country's president Brahim Ghali flew to Kenya to attend the inauguration ceremony held at Kasarani Stadium.

Plans were also underway to cut all ties with the state including shutting down its embassy located in the Kilimani area.

"Kenya supports the United Nations framework as the exclusive mechanism to find a lasting solution to the dispute over Western Sahara," the President stated in the tweet that was deleted minutes later," Ruto stated. 

The denunciation was his first upending on foreign policy, hours after being sworn in as president.  

SADR had been seeking to break away from Morocco for years. 

President William Ruto (right) with Morrocan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita at State House Nairobi on September 14, 2022.

PSCU