Ruto, US Secretary Rubio discuss Haiti security mission, trade as Kenya pushes UN support
In June, Kenya asked the UN Security Council to fast-track the establishment of a UN Support Office in Haiti to provide logistical and operational backing for the MSS mission.
President William Ruto on Tuesday held talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the ongoing Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti and the trade negotiations between Kenya and the United States.
"Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Kenyan President William Ruto today to commend Kenya's continued leadership and ongoing efforts to restore peace and security in Haiti. They reaffirmed our strategic partnership and discussed commercial opportunities to further strengthen economic cooperation between the United States and Kenya," Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a statement.
More To Read
- Court suspends Ruto’s anti-corruption taskforce pending hearing of case
- House Committee rejects Ruto-backed presidential transition Bill
- Why ‘Tomorrow is too late’ to scale up humanitarian aid in Haiti
- Ruto announces 70 per cent artist royalties, unveils digital platform for music festival content
- ‘The Wild West’: Desperation is rampant in Haiti as gangs, vigilantes spread
- Ruto names NLC selection panel as current commissioners’ term nears end
President Ruto confirmed that their discussion covered a wide range of bilateral, regional, and global matters.
"We concurred on the imperative and support for a resolution at the UN Security Council that establishes a UN support office for the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti, to aid efforts to stabilise and secure Haiti. We also discussed the EAC–SADC intervention in Eastern DRC, reaffirming our shared commitment to regional peace and sustainable security. At the bilateral level, we underscored the importance of strengthening Kenya–US relations and agreed to deepen cooperation for the long-term benefit of our people and nations," the President said in a post on X.
Funding for Haiti mission
The US is expected to announce its position on funding for the Haiti mission in the coming days, ahead of the expiry of the mission’s mandate in October.
In June, Kenya asked the UN Security Council (UNSC) to fast-track the establishment of a UN Support Office in Haiti to provide logistical and operational backing for the MSS mission.
This office was among the recommendations earlier made by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to sustain the mission by covering accommodation, medical services, mobility, and IT needs.
The UN has raised concerns that the mission has remained stuck in its deployment phase and lacks the necessary equipment and capacity for sustained operations.
Kenya has also warned that delays in approving the Secretary-General’s proposals, combined with the looming October 2 expiry of the MSS mandate, risk putting the mission in jeopardy and may force Nairobi to reconsider its role.
A UNSC brief noted that "several factors… are generating uncertainties regarding the future of the MSS mission, such as the underfunding of the UN-administered trust fund for the mission, and the fact that current contracts for the mission's Life Support Area (LSA), which are funded by the US, will expire on 30 September. (The LSA is a training area and support hub for MSS personnel.) Suggesting the possibility of Kenya's future disengagement, the letter noted that, due to these uncertainties, Kenya feels 'duty bound to review' its engagement in Haiti and 'take the necessary decisions.'"
Kenyan troops in Haiti
Kenya currently has 991 troops deployed in Haiti, accounting for 39.6 per cent of the planned 2,500-strong force, which remains under-equipped and without sufficient operational capacity.
Guterres has also ruled out the transformation of the MSS mission into a peacekeeping operation, calling it "not a feasible option." Instead, he recommended the creation of a UN Support Office funded through the UN peacekeeping budget, with voluntary contributions from member states covering additional needs such as stipends, military-grade capabilities, and lethal equipment.
The US has reiterated its commitment to supporting Haiti but insists it will not shoulder a disproportionate financial burden. It has urged members of the Organisation of American States (OAS) to take on a greater role in addressing Haiti’s security crisis, including proposals for a regional mission.
Meanwhile, a Kenyan delegation led by Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui and Principal Secretary for Trade Regina Ombam is in Washington, DC, for a three-day working tour aimed at strengthening trade and investment ties with the United States, according to the Ministry of Trade.
Top Stories Today
