US President Joe Biden commended William Ruto’s leadership on Thursday, praising his intervention in politically turbulent Haiti.
President Ruto’s visit to the White House marks the first state visit to the United States by an African leader in over 15 years.
“We are going to provide logistics, intelligence, and equipment. In fact, some of the equipment has already arrived. Kenya is bolstering its police force, and other countries are set to do the same. The United States will support this collective effort in the region. Kenya is not acting alone. We are collaborating with Congress to allocate $300 million for the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, along with an additional $60 million for equipment support. We have also received significant contributions from other partners. President Ruto and I are in agreement that the Haitian people deserve better, peace, and security…” stated US President Joe Biden.
The 1,000 Kenyan officers readying for deployment to Haiti will form part of a multinational force supported by $300 million in U.S. aid, though no American troops will be involved.
“Kenya believes that ensuring peace and security worldwide, including in Haiti, is the collective responsibility of all nations and peoples,” said Ruto.
The Biden administration commended Kenya for its commitment to Haiti, especially when few other countries have agreed to participate. Haiti, the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, has grappled with political instability and natural disasters for decades.
The Haiti mission will also involve support from the Bahamas, Barbados, Benin, Chad, and Bangladesh.