President William Ruto has made it clear that Kenya will not abruptly withdraw its troops from Haiti until there is a well-defined plan for a new international mission.
In an interview with France 24, Ruto highlighted that Kenya’s deployment under the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSSM) had achieved “landmark successes” but stressed that Nairobi’s disengagement must be guided by clarity on the next phase.
“We were asked to step in, and we believe the mission is completed and was a success,” Ruto said. “But the one thing Kenya will not do is to walk away from Haiti without clarity on a transition.”
He emphasized that the timing, structure, and resourcing of the next mission remain uncertain, but Kenya is determined to ensure the gains made are safeguarded.
Security Gains in Haiti
Ruto pointed out that Kenyan forces had been pivotal in reclaiming vital infrastructure from criminal gangs and restoring basic services.
“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 open. The palace was under siege; today, it houses the Presidential Council and Prime Minister,” he noted.
He further revealed that police headquarters and the national training academy had been retaken, with Haiti recently graduating 700 new officers.
Recommendations for the Future
While describing these achievements as a strong foundation, Ruto warned that future operations must go further. He outlined three key measures for the next phase:
- A broader mandate to pursue gangs more aggressively
- Stronger logistical support to avoid shortages
- A larger troop presence to consolidate security gains
According to Ruto, these steps will help ensure Haiti’s stability and safeguard progress made so far.
