Former U.S Special Envoy to Haiti Daniel Lewis Foote has claimed that the then U.S Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman planned the deployment of Kenyan police to lead the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission to Haiti.
In an interview on the Michael Patrick Leahy Show, Foote, who served as US special envoy to Haiti in 2021, said Whitman drafted the deployment deal before getting President William Ruto‘s support.
Foote’s statement follows a similar claim that President Ruto accepted the security deal because of the financial benefits attached to it.
“From what I can tell, the US Ambassador to Kenya, Meg Whitman, came up with this idea on her own,” Foote said.
He stated that the MSS mission is like a “business” for poor countries and those known for taking part in big peacekeeping missions.
Meg Whitman Alleged Agreement with Ruto
Foote added that the deal was a win for both the U.S and Kenya since Ruto needed more international platforms.
“She (Whitman) got interest from President William Ruto of Kenya, and it’s a cash cow for peacekeeping countries, particularly poor ones, which is why you see countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, Uruguay or some of the bigger peacekeeping countries in the world,” he said.
“So, the Kenyans agreed, ‘Okay, we’ll lead it’. President Ruto wants to have a more international platform, etc., and the US is like, ‘great!”
However, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei dismissed the claims as “baseless”.
Also Read: Kenyan Police Fate Unclear as Trump Ally Proposes Alternative Security Mission in Haiti
Kenya Interested in U.S Money
Foote has been making controversial claims since Kenya started planning to send officers to lead the MSS mission to Haiti.
In March 2024, Foote, said the Kenyan government was after the money the UN was expected to inject into the mission.
President Joe Biden’s administration had promised to inject Ksh13 billion ($100 million) to support the multinational force.
“You see the reticence on the part of the Kenyan public to send these guys and that makes me nervous. I believe that this is more of a cash grab by President Ruto, whose country is going to receive a lot of money in doing this,” Foote said.
Also Read: Kenya Begs for Financial Support in Haiti Mission
He warned that the mission would not be a walk in the park for the Kenya police.
Foote also claimed that the operations were not well planned.
Additionally, Foote raised the language barrier concerns stating that it would be difficult for the Kenyan officers to engage the Haitians during the mission.
American States to Support Haiti Mission
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has urged the Organisation of American States (OAS) to assist Kenya in fighting the gangs to restore peace in the Caribbean nation.
Rubio told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that it was time OAS steps forward and lead the MSS mission.
“If ever there was a regional crisis for which an organisation like the OAS should exist, it is the one Haiti is going through today, he said.
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