Ruto Announces Development That Paves Way For Kenya Police Deployment To Haiti

President William Ruto has announced a way forward regarding the deployment of Kenyan police officers to Haiti following the establishment of the Caribbean nation's nine-member Presidential Transitional Council (PTC).

The establishment of the PTC, he stated on Saturday, April 13, was the fruit of the formal Proclamation by Decree in a road to ensure that Haiti was a violent-free state.

"This decision is evident of the collective courage and singular sacrifice of the Haitian Council of Cabinet to forge a Haiti free of violence and to entrench a new democratic administration.

"We look forward to the PTC moving with speed to appoint the Prime Minister and Cabinet," the President stated in part.

President William Ruto and Prime Minister of Haiti Ariel Henry, at State House, Nairobi on February 29, 2024. /PCS

The Head of State further commended the leadership of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) for their steadfast stewardship of the intense consultations that led to the establishment of the PTC that reflects the diverse sections of Haitian society. 

"Kenya expresses confidence that the new political leadership will lay a strong foundation for the resolution of the crisis in Haiti, restoration of security, afford the Haitian people a political transition and usher in sustainable peace and development," he added.

President Ruto further underscored that Kenya reiterates its strong solidarity with Haiti and stands ready to make its contribution within the framework elaborated in the UN Security Council Resolution 2699 of 2023.

The country committed to deploying 1,000 police officers to restore civil order in the troubled country after being requested to do so following the authorization by the UN Security Council to have a multinational security support mission in the country.

Earlier in March, US Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman revealed a new strategy that President Joe Biden’s government had put in place ahead of the planned deployment, one that would see the US Department of State establish a camp in the country for Kenyan security forces ahead of their deployment.

“This is a very complicated mission it is not a UN peacekeeping mission.

"It is a different kind of mission so the police need to be trained, vetted and the Department of Defence needs to set up a camp in Haiti where the police force will go,” she however stated.

President Ruto also announced a change of strategy in terms of the deployment following the resignation of former Prime Minister Ariel Henry by stating on Thursday, March 14 that Kenya would initiate a reconnaissance mission to Haiti.

Regarding the reconnaissance mission, the Head of State noted that the team will be deployed once an interim leadership is installed in Haiti given that Prime Minister Ariel Henry was set to leave office.

Reconnaissance is a mission to obtain information by visual observation or other detection methods, about the activities and resources of an enemy or potential enemy, or the meteorologic, hydrographic, or geographic characteristics of a particular area.