The United States of America (US) government has clarified on the type of support it will accord Kenya in its peace-keeping mission of deploying police officers to Haiti.
White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby affirmed the United States’ stance of only providing Kenya with external support in the mission.
Kirby, while speaking during a press briefing on March 22, 2024, at the White House further maintained that the US would not deploy its troops to fight alongside Kenyan police officers in the country.
He was providing an update on his country’s involvement in the troubled Caribbean nation following the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry and heightened gang violence.
“We’re working with Kenya on a Kenyan-led multinational security support mission, which would not include U.S. troops on the ground as part of that mission. But we are working with Kenyans on what that can look like, what support they might need externally from the United States,” said Kirby.
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US strategy in Haiti
According to the Security advisor, the US had resolved on three options following the recent situation which has seen heightened gang violence, with the supporting Kenya externally being one of them.
Also, he noted that the US government had resolved to working with the Haitians on a Haitian-led political transition process.
He pointed out that a transitional presidential council has since been set up and is currently up and running.
“Hopefully, we’ll see some movement here in coming days about their selection of individuals for governance in Haiti that can be credible and can meet the aspirations of the Haitian people,” he added.
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At the same time, he noted that the US government was keen on helping Americans stuck in the troubled nation leave safely.
His remarks came following President William Ruto‘s stance that Kenya would remain actively involved in the mission despite the political situation in the country.
The Head of State in a statement on March 14, 2024, declared that Kenya would change its strategy of sending officers to the Caribbean nation following recent developments witnessed in the country.
According to Ruto, the country would be sending of a reconnaissance mission before police are eventually deployed.
His declaration came after having conversations with Canadian Prime Minister Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and outgoing Haitian Prime Minister Henry.
