President William Ruto has reaffirmed Kenya's commitment to deploying 2,500 police officers to Haiti as part of an international mission to restore peace.
Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, Ruto highlighted the achievements of the 382 officers already deployed, who have played a key role in securing critical infrastructure and reclaiming gang-controlled areas.
Initially, Kenya pledged to send 1,000 officers to Haiti. The President confirmed that the remaining 600-plus officers will be deployed in January 2024 to meet the 2,500-officer target.
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Ruto expressed gratitude to the United States and Canada for their financial and logistical support, which has been instrumental in the mission's success.
"Recently, I visited Haiti and saw the remarkable progress our officers have made. We are thankful to the US, Canada, and other member states for their contributions, which have been critical to the Multinational Security Support (MSS) deployment," Ruto said.
Despite the progress, the mission faces challenges, mainly due to a lack of funding and equipment from some countries that had pledged support.
Ruto urged other nations to fulfill their commitments, emphasizing the importance of solidarity in assisting Haiti. He called for further contributions to the UN Trust Fund or direct support to the MSS or contributing countries.
The deployment is part of a larger effort to stabilize Haiti, which has been in turmoil since President Jovenel Moïse's assassination in July 2021.
In 2024, Kenya agreed to lead the peacekeeping mission, formalized during former Prime Minister Ariel Henry's visit to Kenya. Following this, Henry resigned, and a Transitional Presidential Council was established to guide Haiti toward political stability and the 2026 elections.
