Kenya condemns escalating Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia as civilian casualty toll rises

Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi expressed Kenya's firm solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia amid a dramatic surge in strikes targeting civilian population centers and vital infrastructure.

Mudavadi articulated Kenya's position during a telephone conversation with Saudi Arabia’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Waleed Elkhereiji, on Thursday, October 15, as confirmed in an official statement released by Saudi authorities.

"Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji received a phone call from Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs of the Republic of Kenya Musalia Mudavadi," reported the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

The diplomatic outreach follows a severe escalation in cross-border missile and drone assaults launched deep into Saudi territory by Iran-backed Houthi rebels, effectively shattering a fragile four-year informal ceasefire. 

Over the past week alone, dozens of targeted strikes have hit critical facilities, disrupting major international transit hubs and challenging the Kingdom’s position as a stable global investment center.

Official data released by the Saudi-led coalition indicates that incoming drone and missile strikes across five Saudi airports have resulted in 19 fatalities and 364 injuries. 

King Khaled International Airport in Riyadh has been heavily targeted, coming under strike 20 times this month alone. 

A series of particularly devastating strikes at the capital's airport killed at least 14 people and injured over 300, forcing a temporary shutdown of operations, while flight operations in Jeddah and Dammam have also suffered severe disruptions and cancellations. 

Beyond transportation hubs, Houthi forces successfully struck the headquarters of state-owned energy conglomerate Saudi Aramco, inflicting physical damage and triggering volatility across global energy markets.

During the call, Mudavadi offered his condolences to the bereaved families, as well as to the leadership and citizens of Saudi Arabia, while offering prayers for the quick recovery of those wounded.

"He also conveyed Kenya’s sincere condolences and sympathy to the victims’ families and to the government and people of Saudi Arabia following the Houthi terrorist attacks, wishing those injured a speedy recovery," the Saudi Press Agency added.

The destabilization comes at a sensitive time for Nairobi, which relies heavily on Saudi Arabia for fuel imports under a Government-to-Government (G2G) supply framework. 

The growing frequency of attacks on critical Saudi infrastructure has heightened concerns over potential disruptions to Kenya's domestic fuel pipeline and broader economic stability.