But what do the Haitians in the territory of Dessalines, free and independent since 1804, respond to, well before Kenya existed as a British colony until 1963? And those who armed the criminal gangs, what is the strategy to punish them and put them out of harm’s way?
Saturday, March 23, 2024 ((rezonodwes.com))–The United States government has clarified the type of support it will provide to Kenya in its peacekeeping mission of deploying police officers to Haiti.
White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby affirmed the US position of providing only external support to Kenya in this mission.
Speaking at a March 22, 2024, press briefing at the White House, Kirby also maintained that the United States would not deploy its troops to fight alongside Kenyan police officers in the country.
He was taking stock of his country’s involvement in the troubled Caribbean nation following the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry and worsening gang violence.
“We are 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 the Kenyans on what that might represent, what supports they might need from outside the United States,” Kirby said.
United States Strategy in Haiti
According to the security adviser, the United States had decided on three options following the recent situation which saw an increase in gang violence, external support to Kenya being one of them.
He also noted that the U.S. government had decided to work with Haitians on a Haitian-led political transition process.
He emphasized thata transitional presidential council had been established and was currently functioning.
« Hopefully we will see some movement in the coming days regarding their selection of people for governance in Haiti who can be credible and meet the aspirations of the Haitian people” , he added.
At the same time, he noted that the U.S. government was eager to help Americans stranded in the troubled country leave safely.
His remarks follow 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, said 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 send a reconnaissance mission before finally deploying police officers.
This statement follows conversations with the Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, and the outgoing Haitian Prime Minister and head of a virtual government, Ariel Henry.
caricature: prof. Castro Desroches
source: The Kenya Times
