President William Ruto is expected to make a formal diplomatic visit to Haiti on Saturday, September 21.
The Head of State will make a stopover in the Caribbean nation ahead of his trip to the United States to attend the United Nations General Assembly.
According to sources privy to the information, during his visit to Haiti, President Ruto will hold a meeting with members of the Presidential Council.
He will later go on the ground to visit the 400 Kenyan troops who are part of the Multinational Security Support Mission deployed in the Caribbean nation.
Kenyan police officers patrolling Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince on June 29, 2024.
Photo
President Ruto’s visit comes several months after Kenya deployed its officers to Haiti to lead a multinational contingent to aid the Haitian police.
The mission has been plagued by logistical problems and cost overruns, leading the United States to explore a new format for the mission at the United Nations.
However, his visit comes hours after Haiti’s Prime Minister Garry Conille left the country for the US to attend the 79th UN General Assembly.
Ruto’s diplomatic visit also follows days after the Head of the Peacekeepers, Godfrey Otunge announced major progress in the mission to eradicate gang violence.
In a presser, Otunge revealed that the Kenyan Police, jointly with Haitian officers undertook security patrols within the streets of Delmas last week, during which several gang members were arrested.
According to the police boss, among those cornered during the raid included two “Chen Mechan and Pierre 6” gang leaders.
“Some of the key areas that the joint operations have been able to recapture and maintain dominance patrols include various streets in Delmas,” Otunge stated.
“The joint operations incorporated different formed HNP Units that saw the key areas pacified with several gangs members fleeing in consternation,” he added.
Kenyan police Commander to Haiti Godfrey Otunge meeting with Brigadye Jeneral William E. Temple and other stakeholders in the Haiti mission on Saturday, September 14 2024. PHOTO/MSSHaiti.
