Kenyan President William Ruto is visiting the United States this week to deepen economic and security cooperation between the two countries and launch a police deployment to Haiti. The trip comes as the Biden administration aims to strengthen relationships with African nations in the face of competition from China and Russia. The UN Security Council authorized a multinational support mission to help restore security in Haiti amid widespread gang violence and instability, with Kenya taking the lead on the deployment.
Despite recent deadly attacks by Haitian armed groups, Kenyan officials say the deployment is imminent as Haiti undergoes a political transition and its main airport reopens. The mission is expected to include 2,500 members, with 1,000 Kenyan police officers involved. Kenya has been pushing for more US financial support for the mission and to help stop the flow of arms into Haiti. However, concerns have been raised about Kenya’s human rights record and lack of public consultation about the deployment.
Human rights groups have stressed the need for safeguards to protect Haitians from previous negative foreign interventions, such as a UN peacekeeping mission linked to a cholera outbreak and sexual abuse allegations. Armed groups have unleashed violence in Haiti, leading to widespread unrest and displacing hundreds of thousands of people. Haiti’s unelected Prime Minister stepped down, and an interim presidential council has been appointed. While some believe foreign intervention is necessary to restore security, questions remain about the effectiveness of a 1,000-officer force.
Former US special envoy to Haiti, Daniel Foote, has criticized foreign interventions in Haiti and raised concerns about the lack of a functioning government to work with in the country. He also questioned whether a 1,000-officer force led by Kenya would be able to effectively address the security challenges in Haiti. Despite opposition to the mission among some Kenyans, others see it as a culmination of efforts to build strong security ties with the US. The mission faces challenges in securing financial support and addressing arms smuggling into Haiti.
As preparations for the Kenya-led mission to Haiti continue, concerns about human rights violations by the Kenyan police force persist. Safeguards will be crucial to ensuring the protection of Haitians and preventing a repeat of past negative foreign interventions. While Haiti faces continued unrest and displacement due to violence, the need for security intervention is apparent. The Kenya-led mission aims to help restore security in Haiti amid growing challenges, but questions remain about its effectiveness and the overall impact on the country.
