Kenya President William Ruto is on a state visit in the United States. The visit coincides with the reaching out of the Haiti Transitional Presidential Council to congratulate President Luis Abinader on winning his bid for reelection. The new acting governance in Haiti is opening the channel for future talks with the Dominican government.
President William Ruto of Kenya on Thursday, 23 May 2024 will become the first President of Kenya to meet with a US President in the past 15 years. The talks with US President Joe Bien are expected to focus on the UN-backed multinational mission and Kenya police deployment to restore order in Haiti. While in the US capital, Ruto is also scheduled to meet with US Senate Leadership Majority Leader Charles Schumer and to address a Black Caucus at the US Library of Congress. On Wednesday, he is scheduled to meet the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Mike Johnson at the United States Capitol. Washington DC is decorated with American and Kenya flags.
Ruto is on a four-day state visit to the United States that began with meetings with US investors in Kenya, including Coca Cola.
The Presidency of Kenya reports that the trip comes as US President Joe Biden’s administration has sought to strengthen partnerships with African nations amid growing competition on the continent with its top geopolitical rivals, China and Russia.
Haiti Libre reports that a first contingent of Kenyan police officers should arrive soon in Port-au-Prince despite a new legal challenge in Nairobi against the deployment.
Haiti Times reports the Kenyan High Court Judge Chacha Mwita agreed last week to consider a new challenge to the deployment of Kenyan police officers to Haiti for the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS). The announcement comes despite reports that already 200 elite officers have departed for Miami, Florida, a stopover before arriving in Haiti. The Kenya High Court hearing is scheduled for 12 June 2024.
The Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) was endorsed by the UN Security Council in October 2023 and seeks to assist the Haitian National Police (PNH) in efforts to security and peace in Haiti. With the backing of first arrivals from the US Southern Command of the United States, the Port-au-Prince International Airport has reopened as part of preparatory efforts to pave the way for the arrival of the MSS force.
Diario Libre in an editorial on 22 May 2024 observes the visit of Ruto to the US is good news for the Dominican Republic as some sort of governance seems to be happening for Haiti. “It appears that efforts to address the protracted crisis in Haiti are finally showing tangible and promising results,” reads the editorial in Diario Libre.
“The Presidential Transition Council has begun to take measures to restore institutionality, initially addressing everyday but critical problems, such as garbage collection, an issue that may seem minor, but has a direct impact on daily life.
“At the same time, the Council is finalizing details to receive a support police force from Kenya, which is expected to arrive in Port-au-Prince this week. This force has combat experience in operations against Islamic terrorist groups in northern Kenya. It will be equipped with AK-47 rifles and prepared to confront Haiti’s criminal gangs in direct combat. In addition, they have been trained in the Creole language and will operate under the command of the Haitian Police.
“This crucial issue will also be the central focus of tomorrow’s meeting between Presidents Joe Biden of the United States and William Ruto of Kenya. The international community follows these developments with interest, hoping that this new momentum does not lose strength and contributes significantly to the stabilization of Haiti.”
The editorial comes shortly after the Transitional Presidential Council of Haiti reached out to congratulate President Luis Abinader upon his reelection in the Dominican Republic. The relations between both countries have been fractured due to the lack of who can speak for the precarious governance that has prevailed in Haiti after the murder of Jovenel Moise on 7 July 2021.
Read more:
Presidency of Kenya
The Star Kenya
Politico
Haiti Times
N Digital
El Dia
Diario Libre
Noticias SIN
Hoy
22 May 2024