Kenya and the U.S have signed a defense agreement aimed at strengthening counterterrorism efforts in East Africa and supporting Kenya’s efforts to take the lead in a security mission to Haiti.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Kenya’s Defense Minister Aden Duale inked the five-year agreement on Monday, September 25 in Nairobi.
Through the deal, Kenya will also receive Ksh14 billion to support logistical operations. Kenya
“Kenya continues to explore available avenues to further and firm up its enduring mutual ties with the United States, especially in the quest for global peace and security.
The Framework, effective between 2023-2028, enables our two militaries to enhance their interoperability in keeping abreast with the increasingly changing security threats notably in counterterrorism, cybercrimes, regional and maritime security,” said CS Duale.
Also, the US Defense secretary thanked Kenya for its willingness to take the lead of a multinational security force to combat gang violence in Haiti. “The United States is grateful to Kenya for its leadership in tackling security challenges in the region and around the world” he said.
Moreover, Austin noted that President Joe Biden’s administration would work with Congress to secure the Ksh14 billion in funding that it pledged for the Haiti mission. He later held talks with President William Ruto at State House.
According to Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, “Secretary Austin expressed deep appreciation for Kenya’s partnership and hosting of U.S. forces at Manda Bay.
The Secretary also thanked President Ruto for his country’s willingness to lead the Multinational Security Support mission in Haiti at the invitation of Haiti and in response to the appeal by the UN Secretary-General.”
Request by the U.N
For more than nine months, the United Nations had appealed unsuccessfully for a country to lead an effort to restore order to the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere.
What’s more, Kenya honoured the request in July, with the Foreign Affairs minister Dr Alfred Mutua saying the government has “accepted to positively consider” leading a force in Haiti and sending 1,000 police officers to train the Haitian National Police, “restore normalcy” and protect strategic installations.
Also Read: Prospect of Kenyan Troops in Haiti has Sparked Concerns
“Kenya stands with persons of African descent across the world,” Alfred Mutua said.
Again, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken afterwards praised Kenya for simply considering serving, a sign of the difficulty in mustering international forces for Haiti, where deadly gang violence has exploded since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise.
Kenya Haiti Diplomatic ties
Kenya formally established diplomatic relations with Haiti.
At the same time, President Ruto and Haiti Prime Minister Ariel Henry witnessed the signing of the agreement at the Kenyan Mission in New York, United States.
“We are committed to deploying a specialised team to assess the situation and formulate actionable strategies that will lead to long-term solutions,” Ruto explained.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Henry said Haiti needs all the necessary support to address immense the challenges facing the country.
