In the wake of a phone call between William Ruto and outgoing US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) leader Eugene Wamalwa has called on the president to reconsider Kenya’s involvement in Haiti.
Wamalwa emphasized that Donald Trump’s recent election victory in the United States should prompt a strategic reassessment, potentially bringing Kenyan police officers back home to address pressing security issues domestically.
The MSS mission, currently supported by US funding, was organized to help restore stability in Haiti, and Blinken thanked Ruto for Kenya’s leadership in the initiative.
In his post-call statement, Ruto revealed that their discussion included the potential transition of the MSS into a United Nations-led peacekeeping mission.
“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 Haiti,” Ruto shared.
A US Department of State statement, released on Friday, November 8, 2024, reiterated Blinken’s appreciation for Kenya’s role in the mission, underscoring the importance of collaboration with Haitian counterparts to restore stability.
The statement expressed gratitude for Kenya’s continued leadership of the Multinational Security Support mission to Haiti.
“Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with Kenyan President William Ruto on November 7 to thank him for Kenya’s continued leadership of the Multinational Security Support mission to Haiti as it works with its Haitian counterparts to restore peace and security to the Haitian people,” part of the statement from the US Department of State reads.
Responding to the conversation, Wamalwa publicly urged Ruto to shift focus back to Kenya, citing growing security challenges.
Trump’s return to office has sparked widespread speculation over how the incoming administration’s foreign policy may impact international partnerships.
Days prior to Ruto’s call with Blinken, Saboti MP Caleb Amisi raised concerns over the future of Kenya’s mission in Haiti under Trump’s leadership.
Amisi argued that Trump’s longstanding preference for reduced foreign aid might put Kenya’s US-backed role in Haiti at risk, adding that Trump’s focus on Africa might pivot toward countering Chinese influence rather than investing in peacekeeping.
Kenya’s involvement in the MSS mission, which came with a $300 million support package from the US and the deployment of 1,000 Kenyan police officers, was designed to provide critical assistance in a time of crisis for Haiti.
However, amid Trump’s expected pivot on foreign commitments, Kenyan leaders are now contemplating whether the original vision for the mission remains sustainable.
With Trump set to take office on January 20, 2025, Kenyan leaders and observers alike are watching closely to see if the incoming administration will alter the trajectory of the country’s peacekeeping efforts in Haiti, as pressure mounts to bring police officers home to tackle security challenges on domestic soil.
