Kenya remains determined to lead a United Nations-approved security mission to Haiti, even after a recent court ruling in Nairobi temporarily blocked the deployment, according to Kenyan President William Ruto. The international force aims to address widespread gang violence in Haiti, which claimed nearly 5,000 lives last year and is initially funded by the United States.
The mission faced uncertainty when a Kenyan court deemed it unconstitutional to deploy officers abroad without a “reciprocal arrangement” with the host government. President Ruto, however, expressed confidence that a formal request from Haiti, expected shortly, would satisfy the court’s demands.
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Responding to questions about ongoing discussions with Haiti, President Ruto confirmed, “Absolutely. Haiti has actually written formally, not today, several months ago.” Kenya had committed 1,000 police officers to the mission in July 2022, standing in solidarity with Haiti amid a surge in gang violence. Other nations, including the Bahamas, Antigua and Barbuda, and Jamaica, expressed willingness to assist, with the United States pledging $200 million to support the deployment.
President Ruto emphasized that the mission is a police operation, not a military one, underscoring its humanitarian nature. The United Nations reported last week that gang violence claimed the lives of 4,789 people in Haiti in 2023, marking a 119% increase from the previous year, with an additional 3,000 people kidnapped. Despite legal challenges, President Ruto emphasized the mission’s importance in addressing a critical humanitarian crisis in Haiti.