NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 29 – Haiti’s Prime Minister, Ariel Henry, has landed in Nairobi for high-level discussions concerning security cooperation, with a focus on activating a Kenyan-led multinational security support mission in the violence-stricken Caribbean nation.
Upon his arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Prime Minister Henry was welcomed by Water and Sanitation Cabinet Secretary Zachariah Njeru on Wednesday.
His visit to Kenya follows his attendance at the 46th Ordinary Meeting of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of State and Government in Guyana, which concluded earlier this week.
During his arrival, Henry inspected a Guard of Honor mounted by Kenya Airforce (KAF) personnel.
While the specifics of the agenda remain undisclosed by Kenyan authorities, a statement from the Water and Sanitation Ministry confirmed the visit of Haiti’s Prime Minister for “various engagements.”
Though Kenya has yet to formally announce the purpose of Henry’s visit an earlier statement from his office quoted as reported by local media, suggested that he intends to engage with Kenyan authorities and representatives from other African nations to finalize the arrangements for the deployment of the Multinational Security Force (MSS).
Originally slated for this month, the deployment was postponed following a January court ruling that challenged the government’s authority to dispatch police officers abroad.
The government has since filed a notice to appeal the High Court’s decision.
President William Ruto has underscored the deployment as a “mission for humanity,” aligning with Kenya’s longstanding commitment to participating in United Nations peacekeeping efforts worldwide.
Haiti’s government announced ongoing efforts to formalize an agreement with Kenyan officials for the deployment of the police force from Nairobi, with support pledged by the United States to fund the UN-approved multinational security force tasked with tackling gang violence in Haiti.
Since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021, Haiti has grappled with heightened instability, marked by a lack of elections since 2016 and an interim presidency.
The multinational mission envisions Kenyan police collaborating with their Haitian counterparts to address the challenge posed by gangs, which have surpassed local law enforcement in numbers and firepower.
The UN Security Council endorsed the mission in early October 2023, underscoring the global commitment to supporting Haiti’s security and stability.
