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Ruto welcomes Haiti's Transitional Council, expresses readiness to restore stability

Former Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry and President William Ruto are pictured at the State House in Nairobi on March 1, 2024. (Photo: PCS)

By Mwangi Maina | Friday, April 26, 2024

This milestone event follows months of turmoil stemming from gang violence and signals the initial phase in the establishment of a new government.

Kenyan President William Ruto has extended a warm welcome to Haiti's newly sworn-in Transitional Ruling Council, marking a significant milestone in the nation's political transition.

The nine-member Transitional Presidential Council, comprising eight men and one woman, is set to be formally inaugurated at the prime minister's office, Villa d'Accueil.

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This milestone event follows months of turmoil stemming from gang violence and signals the initial phase in the establishment of a new government.

Ruto, currently on a visit to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, emphasised the importance of this development in a tweet on Thursday evening, amid ongoing turmoil in the Caribbean country.

"The swearing-in of the Transitional Presidential Council is a crucial step in the political transition of Haiti," posted Ruto on the X platform.

"The TPC has the singular task of moving speedily to re-establish key organs of the State critical to the restoration of law and order and necessary for the ushering of hope to all Haitians as prescribed by the Decree of April 12, 20224," added the Kenyan leader, who has vowed to send 1000 police officers to restore sanity.

"Kenya stands ready and willing, in concert with a broad alliance of nations in Africa and CARICOM, committed to Haiti's stability, to rapidly execute the security support infrastructure envisaged under UN Security Council 2699 (2023)."

He assured the new leadership of Kenya's support as they shepherd Haiti through this critical moment.

Meanwhile, former prime minister, Ariel Henry, who had previously pledged to resign upon the installation of a council, expressed gratitude to the Haitian people "for the privilege to serve our nation with integrity, wisdom, and dignity."

In his resignation letter, dated Wednesday but made public on Thursday from Los Angeles, he said, "Haiti will experience a resurgence."

The gangs raided police stations, airports, prisons, and hospitals and warned Henry, who had visited Kenya in early March for the signing of the reciprocal agreement, against returning to the capital, Port-au-Prince.

The Multinational Security Support is a force approved by the UNSC on October 2, 2023, to help restore law and order in the country plagued by gang violence.

On October 13, 2023, both the National Security Council and Cabinet approved the deployment of Kenya's police officers, while parliament gave its unanimous authorization on November 16, 2023.