Kenyan President William Ruto has affirmed Kenya’s commitment to lead a United Nations-approved security mission to Haiti, despite a recent court ruling in Nairobi obstructing the deployment.
The mission aims to address the pervasive issue of gang violence in Haiti, which claimed nearly 5,000 lives last year, and is initially backed by the United States.
The deployment faced uncertainty after a Kenyan court declared it unconstitutional to send officers abroad without a “reciprocal arrangement” with the host government.
President Ruto expressed optimism that a request from Haiti, anticipated to fulfill the court’s demands, would be forthcoming.
“Haiti had asked for help months ago,” Ruto stated, “so that the mission can go ahead as soon as next week if all the paperwork is done between Kenya and Haiti on the bilateral route suggested by the court.”
Responding to inquiries about ongoing discussions with Haiti, Ruto affirmed, “Absolutely.
Haiti has actually written formally, not today, several months ago.”
Haiti sought assistance in 2022 amidst escalating gang violence but struggled to find support due to reluctance from foreign governments to back the country’s unelected administration.
Kenya, with a history of participating in international peacekeeping, volunteered in July, committing 1,000 police officers as an act of solidarity with a fellow nation.
The Bahamas, Antigua and Barbuda, and Jamaica subsequently expressed their willingness to assist, while the United States pledged $200 million to facilitate the deployment.
Ruto emphasized that the mission is a police operation, not a military one, stating, “The mission is on course.
The mission is a bigger calling to humanity.”
Last week, the United Nations reported a staggering 119% increase in gang violence-related deaths in Haiti, totaling 4,789 in the previous year, and documented an additional 3,000 people kidnapped.
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