Biden Offers Ksh 14B for Kenya Police Mission in Haiti

by Washington Mito on Saturday, 23 September 2023 – 9:27 am

President William Ruto inspecting a GSU pass out parade on January 12, 2023.

President Joe Biden's administration has offered to support the Kenya police-led peacekeeping mission in Haiti to the tune of Ksh14.5 billion (USD 100 million).

While making the announcement on Friday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken indicated that the Biden administration was keen on ensuring that the police mission is successful.

Blinken stated that the support will cover logistics, intelligence, communication and medical support.

“The people of Haiti cannot wait much longer. Improved security must be accompanied by real progress to resolve the political crisis. The support mission will not be a substitute for political progress," he stated.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at a meeting with Foreign Affairs CS Alfred Mutua and other UN officials in New York on September 22, 2023.

The announcement by the Biden administration was made hours after Blinken held a meeting with Foreign Affairs CS Alfred Mutua alongside other officials from the United Nations (UN) at the sidelines of the UN General Assembly (UNGA).

Blinken intimated that the meeting was aimed at seeking more support for the Kenya-led mission which is yet to get the green light from the UN Security Council.

Reports indicate that the closed-door meeting centred around the logistics needed by the officers and the preliminary report by the Kenyan police team that visited Haiti in August.

"We convened partners at the UNGA to support the Multinational Security Support mission to Haiti, which will help Haitian people in restoring security and stability," Blinken added.

As per the proposal, Kenya will send 1000 police officers to the country whose stability was compromised by gangs.

Apart from Kenya, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Barbuda and Antigua Islands have also offered to support the mission with the deployment of officers.

During the mission, the NPS officers will train Haiti police and assist them in restoring peace in the country.

Other countries are yet to join in the mission which we'll immediately kickstart once approved by the UN Security Council.

Notably, the developments from the US came days after Biden praised President William Ruto for offering to deploy officers to Haiti even as he called on the security council to fasten the process.

US President Joe Biden addressing the US – Africa Business Forum on December 14, 2022.