In the wake of President William Ruto's phone call with United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken where they discussed the transition of the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) in Haiti into a UN peacekeeping operation, DAP-Kenya party leader Eugene Wamalwa has called for the withdrawal of Kenyan police officers from Haiti.
In an update on Friday, November 8, he said following Donald Trump's win as US president, officers in Haiti should be sent back to Kenya to deal with issues such as abductions and femicide.
"The fate of the Haiti mission after Trump's victory should be to push for defunding and replacement of the US/Kenyan lead Mission by UN-led and funded mission and return of Kenyan officers home to deal with rising insecurity, abductions, and forced disappearing test, femicide and extrajudicial killings," Wamalwa wrote on X.
MSS, an international police and military force, was authorized by the United Nations Security Council on October 2, 2023, to assist the Haitian government in restoring law and order amidst rampant gang violence.
The mission was established under UN Security Council Resolution 2699, which received 13 votes in favour, with China and Russia abstaining.
Kenya leads the mission, coordinating closely with the Haitian National Police, while other nations contributing personnel include Jamaica, the Bahamas, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Benin, and Chad.
The first contingent of Kenyan police officers arrived in Haiti on June 25, 2024, followed by a second group of 200 officers on July 16, 2024.
President William Ruto, revealed discussion's with the US secretary of state, insisting Kenya-US relations are still intact.
"I have had a constructive conversation with US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken on the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) in Haiti. We discussed the transition of the mission into a UN peacekeeping operation to enhance the capability of the mission to help stabilise." the head of state said.
"Kenya and the United States are continuously working together to enhance our collaboration to ensure improved governance. This includes the fight against corruption and provision of capacity building to make our security institutions more efficient, effective and accountable in the discharge of their mandate," Ruto added.
Donald Trump's win over Kamala Harris in the recently concluded United States elections, has led to uncertainty on Kenya's contracts and agreements that President Ruto signed with the incumbent U.S President Joe Biden's administration.
