Kenya has formally reached out to Brazil for technical and financial assistance to strengthen the ongoing Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission in Haiti, aimed at restoring peace and rebuilding livelihoods in the crisis-stricken Caribbean nation.
The appeal was made by Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Musalia Mudavadi, during his official visit to Brazil for the 5th Kenya-Brazil Political Consultations. Mudavadi met with Brazil’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mauro Vieira, in Brasília where he briefed him on the progress and challenges of the Kenya-led mission in Haiti.
“We reaffirmed our commitment to deepening bilateral ties with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on tourism,” Mudavadi said, noting that the discussions also covered opportunities for cooperation in agriculture, trade, investment, health, climate resilience, and security. “I also briefed Minister Vieira on the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti and appealed for Brazil’s technical and financial backing.”
Kenya has deployed close to 800 police officers as part of the United Nations-backed effort to stabilize Haiti, which continues to grapple with gang violence and political instability. The mission, now in its second year, has received support from the UN and the United States. However, challenges persist, including inadequate equipment and logistics. Tragically, two Kenyan officers have died and several others have been injured since the deployment began.
Prior to arriving in Brazil, Mudavadi visited Washington, D.C., where he held talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who reiterated American support for Kenya’s leadership in the Haiti mission and broader efforts to enhance regional stability and democratic governance.
Mudavadi also stopped in the Dominican Republic, where he held political consultations with Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez. Both leaders emphasized the need for better logistical support to enhance the mission’s effectiveness.
Mudavadi is accompanied in Brazil by Dr. Andrew Karanja, Kenya’s Ambassador to Brazil, and Ambassador Lucy Kiruthu, Acting Director General for Political and Diplomatic Affairs. The visit underlines Kenya’s diplomatic push to secure broader international backing for its peacekeeping leadership in Haiti
