Haiti Citizens Stage Protests Near White House As Ruto Holds Talks With Biden: "No To Occupation"

• As President William Ruto was welcomed by US President Joe Biden, Kenya's embassy was buzzing with activity
• Haitians residing in the United States marched around the Kenyan embassy, holding placards and chanting anti-Ruto slurs
• One protester accused President Ruto of being controlled by the West, describing the mission as an invasion of Haiti by Kenya

Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Washington DC - A group of Haitians have staged protests against Kenya's decision to send police officers to their country.

As President William Ruto was being welcomed by US counterpart Joe Biden, Kenya's embassy was a buzz of activities.

Why are Haitians protesting?

Holding placards, the group of Haitians residing in the United States expressed their opposition to the mission.

While marching around the Kenyan embassy, the rowdy group could be heard chanting anti-Ruto slurs.

One of the protestors accused the president of being controlled by the West, terming the mission an invasion by Kenya.

"He's a slave...we are here to protest about what Ruto is about to do. I am from Haiti. He wants to invade Haiti," shouted one of the protesters.

Kenyan Police to Leave for Haiti

Ahead of Ruto's visit to the US, the National Police Service was set to deploy the first batch of police officers to Haiti for a peacekeeping mission.

The first group of 200 police officers were set to arrive in the troubled Caribbean nation on May 23.

The officers were mainly drawn from the elite Recce squad, Rapid Deployment Force and Special Operation Group.

Kenya police officers will be operating from military barracks that have been under construction by US soldiers who arrived in Port-au-Prince earlier.

Ruto reiterates support for Haiti

Earlier, Ruto affirmed Kenya's dedication to restoring peace in Haiti following the inauguration of the Transitional Presidential Council (TPC).

Ruto emphasised the TPC's importance in Haiti's political transition, highlighting its role in re-establishing crucial state organs for restoring law and order.

He expressed Kenya's readiness to collaborate with other nations and international organisations to support Haiti's stability efforts.

What you need to understand about Kenya's deployment of police to Haiti

• The move to deploy the Kenyan law enforcers to Haiti was adopted in April 2023 and was approved by the United Nations Security Council.
• The High Court in Kenya would, however, bar the Interior Ministry from authorising a request to send the officers to the Caribbean country.
• In light of the court decision, the Kenyan Parliament proceeded to give the green light for the deployment of 1,000 police officers.

Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura Guthua, journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke