Ruto and Haiti Presidential Transition Council in talks
President William Ruto with former Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry at State House, Nairobi on March 1, 2024.
What you need to know:
- President Ruto said Kenya is a firm believer in the shared international values of multilateralism.
- The mission to Haiti was authorised by the United Nations Security Council on October 2, 2023.
President William Ruto held talks with the Haiti Transitional Presidential Council chaired by Edgard Leblanc on Wednesday night, a day after a team of Haitian police commanders concluded a trip to Nairobi.
National Security Adviser Monica Juma and the head of the team to be deployed to Haiti, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Noor Gabow, joined the talks held virtually.
The President said Kenya is a firm believer in the shared international values of multilateralism as enshrined in the United Nations Charter.
“We will safeguard shared principles of humanity that enable us to advance peace, security and stability,” President Ruto told the meeting.
“We shall establish communication channels as part of the ongoing engagement in restoring peace to Haiti.”
The talks came a day after Inspector-General of Police, Japhet Koome, told Haitians that Kenya is committed to the Multilateral Security Support Mission to the troubled Caribbean nation ahead of deployment of police officers.
Mr Koome gave the statement after holding talks with the delegation the Haitians at the National Police Service headquarters in Nairobi on Tuesday.
“The National Police Service remains committed to collaboration in the mission for the good of the people of Haiti, especially women and children,” Mr Koome said.
The mission to Haiti was authorised by the United Nations Security Council on October 2, 2023.
Kenya is expected to deploy a contingent of 1,000 police officers to the Caribbean island-nation, which is grappling with security crises.
Apart from Kenya, at least five other nations – including Jamaica and Benin – have told the United Nations that they are ready to deploy police officers to Haiti as part of the mission.
Kenya authorities, however, remain tight-lipped on details of the deployment, though sources confirmed that the date is fast approaching.
The first batch of police officers was to arrive in the country by May 23 before being deployed to form the 2,500-strong security force, but that was deferred.
Hopes for the deployment were dashed last month when a Kenyan team, which visited Port-au-Prince to assess the country’s readiness to host the peace mission, said there were inadequate armoured vehicles to move the officers around as well as radios and other communications gadgets.
The team also pointed out the need for helicopters to evacuate casualties.
