Anglican Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit has criticized President William Ruto’s decision to deploy Kenyan police officers to Haiti, calling it an ill-advised move given the ongoing insecurity issues in Kenya’s northern regions. He emphasized that it doesn’t make sense to send troops abroad while local security concerns, particularly in the North Rift, remain unresolved.
Ole Sapit highlighted the plight of residents in northern Kenya, many of whom have been displaced due to insecurity and are now living in deplorable conditions in IDP camps in Lolmolog, Longewan, and Ang’ata Nanyekie. He urged the government to prioritize addressing internal security issues before committing personnel to international missions.
During his working tour of Samburu County, the Archbishop, alongside local leaders, reiterated the need for enhanced security in the North Rift region. Philip Lerno, the area chief of Loosuk in Samburu West Sub County, noted that bandits continue to pose a significant threat. While National Police Reservists (NPR) are currently holding the bandits at bay, the tension remains high, and the risk of attacks persists.
Despite these concerns, President William Ruto has defended Kenya’s commitment to sending 1,000 police officers to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, as part of a U.N. Security Council-backed mission to stabilize the troubled country. On Friday, he reiterated Kenya’s dedication to the international security effort.