Ekuru Aukot questions Ruto’s silence over RSF passport saga
By Ndiritu Wanjiru, March 4, 2026Thirdway Alliance Party leader Ekuru Aukot has launched an attack on President William Ruto over what he terms a deafening silence in the wake of the controversial issuance of Kenyan passports to individuals linked to Sudan’s paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by one of its officials, Algoney Hamdan Dagalo.
Sharing his sentiments in an interview with a local TV station on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, Aukot said that Kenya’s passports are now under intense international scrutiny, raising uncomfortable questions about how critical immigration decisions were made and who authorised them. He argued that the president’s failure to directly address the matter is fueling public suspicion and undermining confidence in the country’s governance systems.
“Our passports are under intense scrutiny, and questions are mounting about how decisions were made. The president’s silence on key concerns is fueling suspicion, with many now asking whether his inaction makes him complicit in the controversy,” Aukot stated.
Controversial passport issuance
There is a lot of disagreement about this because there are reports that an RSF official got a Kenyan passport in unclear circumstances. Immigration records that surfaced publicly suggested that the individual, said to have close ties to senior RSF leadership in Sudan, acquired Kenyan citizenship documentation despite questions surrounding eligibility.
The RSF has been at the center of Sudan’s protracted conflict, facing international scrutiny over its role in the violence that erupted in 2023. Against this backdrop, the facilitation of Kenyan documentation to a figure associated with the group has raised concerns about national security, diplomatic implications, and the integrity of Kenya’s citizenship framework.
Aukot insists that the matter goes beyond politics and touches on the sovereignty of the state. He is calling for a transparent explanation from the highest office, warning that continued silence risks eroding public trust and damaging Kenya’s global reputation.
Aukot insists on procedural issuance of passports
Aukot has further insisted that the legal procedure outlined in the process of acquiring a Kenyan passport should have been followed to the letter.
Foreign nationals are required to submit their applications through the Foreign Nationals Management Information System (FNMIS), after which their details undergo rigorous background checks and security vetting conducted by the National Intelligence Service (NIS).
Once the process is complete, the Cabinet Secretary makes the final decision to approve or reject the application, and successful applicants are then registered in the national population database.