US President Joe Biden commended Kenya’s President, William Ruto on Thursday (23 May), congratulating him for his intervention in Haiti. President Ruto's visit to the White House marks the first state visit by an African leader to the United States in over 15 years.
"We are going to provide logistics, intelligence, and equipment. In fact, some of the equipment has already arrived. Kenya is strengthening its police force, and other countries are planning to do the same. The United States is going to support the collective effort in this area. Of course, Kenya is not going it alone. We are working with Congress to provide $300 million for the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, and an additional $60 million for equipment support. We have also received and continue to receive significant contributions from other partners. President Ruto and I agree that the Haitian people deserve better, that they deserve peace and security," said President Biden.
The 1,000 Kenyan officers preparing to deploy to Haiti will be part of a multinational force supported by $300 million in U.S. funding, though no American troops will be involved. "Kenya believes that the responsibility of peace and security anywhere in the world, including in Haiti, is the collective responsibility of all nations and all peoples," Ruto stated. The Biden administration has praised Kenya for stepping up in Haiti, a nation that has struggled with political instability and natural disasters for decades, when few other countries have agreed to help. The Haiti mission will also receive support from the Bahamas, Barbados, Benin, Chad, and Bangladesh.
