Biden Hails Ruto for willing to Deploy Kenyan police in pursuit to combat gangs in Haiti

New York, 

Tuesday, 19 September, 2023 

McCreadie Andias 

United States President Joe Biden has hailed President William Ruto for willing to send the Kenyan police to support combat the escalating gang tensions in Haiti. 

President Biden who adrressed the 78th UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, 19th September thanked President Ruto for his willingness to serve as a UN lead National in its security mission. 

"I thank President Ruto of Kenya, for his willingness to serve as a lead Nation of the UN back security support mission." Biden said. 

In October last year, Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry, called on the international community to help set up a “specialised armed force” to eradicate the surging Criminal gangs in Haiti that have been raining havoc to millions of people with the UN estimating close to 2,400 deaths caused by gang violence in the country . 

Gangs control roughly 80 percent of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and violent crimes have soared, including kidnappings for ransom, carjackings, rape and armed theft.

In July, Kenya said it was prepared to lead a “multinational force” in Haiti – provided the mission gets a mandate from the UN Security Council – to help train and assist the Haitian police to “restore normalcy” with the UN and US government backing Kenya's approach. 

However Civil society organizations have rejected the move decrying human rights violations. They said foreign interventions would only exercebate the situation and rather suggested for bolstering of Haitian police and sending in arms and weapons that would help fight crime. 

The Kenya Police was also accused of Human rights violations with cases of assault, torture and extra-Judicial Killings during the execution of curfew and lock down laws at the heat of Covid-19 wave in the country especially in informal settlements. 

Since then the intervention has been stalled pending approval by the security council. 

Speaking during the UN General Assembly on Tuesday morning, Biden urged the UN Security Council to “authorise this mission now” and that the people of Haiti "Cannot wait much longer."

Biden said the United Nations needs more Voices and interventions on the table whilst it continues to preserve peace, prevent conflict and alleviate human suffering.