President William Ruto has said Kenya will not rush to withdraw its forces from Haiti, stressing that any exit will only happen after there is a clear strategy for the future of the multinational operation. He noted that while major strides have been made in stabilising the country, the mission's success depends on what happens next.
In an interview aired on France 24, Ruto described the Kenyan-led intervention under the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) as a turning point in Haiti’s fight against criminal gangs. However, he was firm that Nairobi will not back out until the international community provides a roadmap for the next phase.
“We were asked to step in, and we believe the mission is completed and was a success,” Ruto said on Thursday.
“But the one thing Kenya will not do is to walk away from Haiti without clarity on a transition. We will be there to make sure the next mission, once it is formed, is well structured. It’s not clear when that will be formed, it’s not clear how it will be resourced — there are many things still hanging.”
The President acknowledged that Kenya’s goal is still to return its personnel home, but said pulling out without a plan would undo progress. He warned of a gap that remains in Haiti’s security system, especially if the mission ends without putting a new framework in place.
According to Ruto, the situation in Haiti has improved significantly, with Kenyan forces playing a key role in stabilising government facilities and supporting local services. He highlighted updates shared with him by the head of Haiti’s Presidential Council, showing how far the country has come since the deployment began.
“When we went to Haiti, both the air and sea ports had been overrun by gangs. Today, they are operating. Schools and hospitals had been overrun; today, they are operating. The palace was under siege from gangs; today, that is where the Presidential Council and Prime Minister sit,” Ruto said.“Police headquarters, together with the training academy, were overrun, and gangs were operating from police headquarters. Today it’s working, and they have just graduated 700 officers,” he added.
President Ruto further outlined three proposals to guide the next mission: expanding the mandate to allow more direct action against gangs, boosting logistical support, and increasing the size of the deployment. He argued that these adjustments would help secure the gains made and strengthen future efforts. “With these, we have set the foundation of the success of the intervention in Haiti and recommended how it should look going into the future,” he said.
Ruto again raised the matter on Tuesday during a session on Haiti at the UN General Assembly in New York, where he praised the Multinational Security Support Mission’s role in restoring order.
He called on the international community to act quickly in supporting a follow-up mission, especially as the UN Security Council gets ready to make key decisions in the coming days.
“Thanks to the MSS, the situation today is markedly different,” Ruto said. He pointed out that the mission had revived basic services and given hope to communities that had suffered for years under gang rule.
The mission, which was approved under UN Security Council Resolution 2699, officially kicked off on June 25, 2024, with the arrival of the first 200 Kenyan police officers in Port-au-Prince.
The deployment, although risky and complex, has continued to grow, now including 989 officers from six countries. Kenya has provided 735 officers, with others coming from Jamaica, Guatemala, El Salvador, the Bahamas, and Canada.
Still, the current number falls far short of the original goal of 2,500 personnel. The mission remains understrength, operating at less than 40 percent of its intended capacity.
“Despite inadequate and unpredictable resources, the MSS has registered undeniable success,” Ruto said.