NAIROBI, Haiti, CMC – President William Ruto has told an estimated 400 Kenyan troops who will arrive in Haiti later this week that their deployment is “one of the most urgent, important and historic in the history of global solidarity”.
Kenya is spearheading a United Nations Security Council Security-sanctioned multi-national Support Mission to the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country that has been wracked with political, and socio-economic problems, highlighted by criminal violence ever since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July 2021.
Speaking at a ceremony on Monday, where he wished luck to the 400 officers, President Ruto also handed them a Kenyan national flag.
“Your presence in Haiti will bring hope and relief to communities torn apart by violence and ravaged by disorder,” he said, adding that the rest of the force will join their colleagues “soon”.
Writing on X, formerly Twitter, Ruto said “Kenya has solid credentials in peace-making and conflict resolution globally.
“Our police officers’ presence in Haiti will give relief to the men, women and children whose lives have been broken by gang violence. We will work with the international community to bring lasting stability in Haiti.”
Kenya has offered to send about 1,000 troops to stabilise Haiti alongside personnel from several other countries, including The Bahamas, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize and Jamaica.
The United Nations has said that more than 2,500 people were killed or injured in the first three months of the year in Haiti and that the spike in violence has displaced more than half a million people.
Gangs now control at least 80% of the capital, Port-au-Prince and key roads.
Trapped outside the country as the international airport was closed, former prime minister Ariel Henry was forced to resign.
US Department of State spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters “we hope to see further measurable improvements in security, particularly with respect to access to humanitarian aid and core economic activity”.
Efforts have been continuing to restore peace and security in the country with the installation of the new prime minister.
Prime Minister Garry Conille was sworn into office on June 12 and has already named members of his new cabinet with the 58-year-old former United Nations senior official, saying his administration would crackdown on corruption.
In addition, Conille said his administration would crack down on corruption.
“The fight against corruption will be an absolute priority of my government,” Conille said, promising also regular audits of public resources.
“My government will work without rest to improve the conditions of each and every Haitian,” he said, telling the ceremony that “without security, no sustainable progress can be achieved”.
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