Kenyan President William Ruto is currently in the United States for a three-day state visit, marking the first such trip for an African leader since 2008. During his visit, Ruto will meet with US President Joe Biden at the White House, with a key item on their agenda being the multinational security intervention in Haiti. This mission, led by Kenya and supported by Washington, aims to address the ongoing crisis in Haiti, where violence and gang warfare have plagued the nation.
Despite the US’s decision not to contribute forces to the initiative, they have become Kenya’s biggest supporter and funder of the mission. However, the deployment of Kenyan police to Haiti has sparked debates and opposition within Kenya’s Parliament and courts. Critics argue that the deployment goes against the country’s constitution, which only allows for military, not police, deployments.
The Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) in Haiti, approved by the UN Security Council, will be led by a 2,500-strong force, with 1,000 Kenyan police officers playing a crucial role. Several other countries have also pledged police forces to support the mission. Despite the controversy surrounding Kenya’s involvement in the mission, President Ruto has emphasized the humanitarian aspect of their participation.
The decision to nominate Kenya for the mission and the US’s decision not to send troops to Haiti remain unclear. However, Washington has been actively involved in supporting the mission by providing funding, training personnel, and building the operations base for the MSS in Haiti. The US’s backing of Kenya for this mission reflects their growing reliance on Nairobi for security interests in the region.
President Ruto’s visit to the US comes at a time when the US is seeking to counter the influence of China and Russia in Africa. Ruto is also looking to attract foreign investment to offset Kenya’s debts. The longstanding relationship between Kenya and the US, grounded in shared values of democracy and enterprise, provides a solid foundation for increased cooperation and investment opportunities between the two countries.