William Ruto Arrives In Haiti To Evaluate Police Mission Amid Rising Insecurity

• President William Ruto has arrived in Haiti to have a word with the contingent of police officers sent to the Caribbean state
• State House spokesperson Hussein Mohamed said the visit is also aimed at strengthening the bilateral relationship between Kenya and Haiti
• The mission will expire in October 2024 but is expected to be renewed by the UN Security Council

Nancy Odindo, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics, news, and feature stories across digital and print media in Kenya.

President William Ruto has met with Kenyan police officers deployed for a peacekeeping mission in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

This visit marks his first trip to the Caribbean nation, occurring 100 days after the officers were dispatched to help restore peace and is also his inaugural visit since taking office in 2022.

"President William Ruto arrives in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, 100 days after flagging off the Kenyan police contingent of the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) to Haiti," said State House spokesperson Hussein Mohamed.

Why is William Ruto in Haiti?

Hussein noted that President Ruto is in Haiti to assess the progress of the MSS mission, commend the Kenyan contingent working alongside their Haitian counterparts, and meet with the Transitional Presidential Council led by H.E. Edgard LeBlanc, and members of the Haitian Cabinet.

Ruto plans to speak with the police officers, who are in high spirits and committed to restoring peace and combating gang violence in the country.

His visit also aims to strengthen bilateral relations between Kenya and Haiti.

The peacekeeping mission is set to expire in October 2024 but is anticipated to be renewed by the UN Security Council for another year due to the relentless gangs.

After his tour in Haiti, the president will attend the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

What achievements have Kenyan police made in Haiti?

The officers, along with their Haitian counterparts, have recaptured Auorite Portuaire Nationale (APN), a key port in the capital, Port-au-Prince, following a fierce battle with the dangerous gangs.

Several towns have witnessed human activities which was not the case.

Additionally, barely a week ago, the Kenyan and Haitian police in a joint effort arrested two gang leaders from Chen Mechan and Pierre six gangs.

What else you need to know about Haiti mission

• The president promised to send an additional 600 officers to help in the operation
• The National Police Service refuted claims that seven police officers had been killed in Haiti by the gangs by mid-July
• President William Ruto sang and prayed for the officers after an engagement with the cops

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke