"We will come to Haiti" Says president Ruto

In a recent development, Kenyan President William Ruto has affirmed Kenya's commitment to taking leadership of the UN Security Support Mission in Haiti. This decision came after a phone call with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, during which Blinken briefed President Ruto on the political situation in Haiti.

President Ruto stated that Blinken informed him of a new Presidential Council that would be formed shortly to manage the situation in Haiti. In response, President Ruto assured Blinken that Kenya would resume the mission as soon as the council was in place and a process agreed upon.

The decision to halt the mission was initially announced by Principal Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Korir Sing’oei, following the resignation of Haiti’s Prime Minister, Ariel Henry. Sing’oei explained that the lack of a government in Haiti would affect the mission, as there would be no anchor or grounds to justify the operation.

"The deal they signed with the president still stands, although the deployment will not happen now because definitely, we will require a sitting government to also collaborate with," PS Korir was quoted by the New York Times. He emphasized the importance of having a functioning administration in place before deploying personnel to Haiti.

Previously, the United States had deployed marine forces into Haiti to evacuate its Embassy and citizens after gangs took control of the capital. However, a commentary by former US special envoy to Haiti, Daniel Foote, expressed skepticism about Kenya's ability to deliver on the mission's mandate.

Foote stated that Kenya’s mission was bound to fail unless the country could address its own internal challenges, particularly regarding peace and security. He urged Kenya to prioritize maintaining peace within its territory and curbing insecurity before committing resources to the mission in Haiti.

Despite these concerns, President Ruto's commitment to leading the UN Security Support Mission in Haiti demonstrates Kenya's dedication to supporting global peace and security efforts. As discussions continue and the situation in Haiti evolves, Kenya stands ready to play a crucial role in restoring stability to the region.