Kenya signs deal to send specialised police to Haiti
President William Ruto and Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry on September 21, 2023, witnessed the signing of an agreement that will enable Kenya to send police officers to Haiti.
The agreement, signed by Minister Jean Victor Génus and Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua at the Kenya Mission in New York, United States will facilitate cooperation in areas of mutual interest among others.
In a statement dispatch, President Ruto called for a holistic approach that includes political, security, and development considerations to effectively address the situation in Haiti.
The president said Kenya will play its part in leading a well-resourced and effective Multinational Security Support Mission in the country.
“As the lead nation in the UN-backed security mission in Haiti, we are committed to deploying a specialized team to comprehensively assess the situation and formulate actionable strategies that will lead to long-term solutions,” he said.
On his part, Prime Minister Henry said Haiti needs all the support it can get to address the immense security, humanitarian, environmental, and economic challenges that surround today’s deployment.
He said the people of Haiti look forward to the elimination of criminal gangs that have been spreading terror since 2021.
The signing comes a day after the United States (US) President Joe Biden commended President Ruto for his willingness to deploy Kenyan police to Haiti to help restore order in the gang-ridden Caribbean nation.
Speaking at the official opening of the 78th Session of the General Debate at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York, President Biden thanked Dr Ruto for joining the Caribbean community in its quest for peace and willingness to alleviate the suffering of the Haitian people.
“The Caribbean community is facilitating dialogue within Haitian society. I thank President Ruto of Kenya for his willingness to serve as the lead nation of a UN-backed security support mission,” he said.
“I call on the Security Council to authorize this mission now. The people of Haiti cannot wait any longer,” President Biden added.
Also read: Moses Kuria details how Raila Odinga came to cook dinner for him