Kenyan President William Ruto Seeks to Deploy Troops to Haiti

<h2Interview with VOA’s Hubba Abdi

Photo: US Department of State. President William Ruto of Kenya meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Kenyan President William Ruto says Nairobi has met all legal and constitutional requirements to deploy troops to Haiti to help the Caribbean nation out of political and socioeconomic turmoil.

In an exclusive interview with VOA’s Hubbah Abdi shortly after concluding his state visit to the United States last week, Ruto said the East African nation “will show up in Haiti” as it has historically done for more than a dozen other countries to support peace efforts.

“Haiti is not going to be an exception,” he noted.

The Kenyan leader also addressed criticisms surrounding the cost of his recent U.S. trip, which some media organizations said was $1.5 million.

This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

"You suggested that developing countries, especially in Africa, need support to offset debts. But Kenya has borrowed about $6 billion since former President Mwai Kibak’s administration that ended in 2013. What are you expecting from the United States in terms of help on this debt burden?"

Kenyan President William Ruto: The conversation that we had with the United States is that they will lead, and they will champion. And we appreciate that everybody has now come to agree that we need a fairer international financial architecture.

It is the reason why the United States [has] committed $250 billion, and specifically, $21 billion to the concessionary window of the World Bank under the IDA [International Development Association] so that we can reach the target we set in Nairobi of $120 billion that will support developing countries … like Kenya [to] access concessionary financing so that countries do not spend more in debt repayment and in managing the effects of climate change.

But they will spend more in development, in health, education, and social services. And I am very proud of the outcome of my meeting with President Biden and by extension, the U.S. government. Both President Biden and the senators, congressmen have agreed to double U.S. contribution to IDA so that we can be able to do more with our resources and be able to access more concessionary funding for the development of our countries.

<em"How do you respond to Kenya’s $6 billion debts and what you expect in terms of help from the United States?"

Kenyan President William Ruto: The numbers being bandied around are ridiculous, to say the least. I think the expenditures on my trip are completely exaggerated. I am very careful about the resources that I spend. In fact, I have cut down on funding to my office. I have cut down on funding to different government agencies. I have reduced by 30% recurrent expenditures in this budget so that we can live within our means, as I have said, and we can push more resources to the realm of development, education, providing help and doing the things that matter like cash transfers to citizens.

<em"Haiti is not on the exception list. Several countries, including the U.S., have refrained from sending troops to help Haiti in its political instability and crisis. Why keep pressing ahead with this issue?"

Kenyan President William Ruto: The deployment of our security officers to Haiti has been endorsed by the Cabinet. Both houses of parliament have ratified it. We have met all international requirements, and in fact, we have complied with the very court order you’re referring to.

The court asked us to have an agreement signed between Kenya and Haiti specifically to facilitate this deployment. The prime minister of Haiti [Ariel Henry] traveled to Kenya, and we jointly witnessed the signing of that agreement.

Beyond that, I have also asked the Transitional Presidential Council in Haiti to ratify and confirm that they recognize the agreement that was signed between Kenya and witnessed by the former prime minister and myself. I have it in writing that they confirm that the current administration recognizes that agreement. So, we are very clear, and I am very clear in my mind that Kenya has satisfied all legal, constitutional and international obligations to facilitate the deployment of this police contingent.

We believe that the responsibility in Haiti belongs to all countries and all people who believe in self-determination, democracy, the rule of law and peace. We will show up in Haiti the same way we have done in other countries. Kenya has been in 47 other countries supporting peace, and Haiti is not going to be an exception.

Conclusion:

Overall, the interview highlights Ruto’s determination to move forward with deploying Kenyan troops to Haiti, even in the face of diplomatic resistance and court challenges at home. The Kenyan leader’s responses emphasize a sense of national responsibility towards the global community, which Kenya is willing to exert, as it has successfully done in the past.

FAQs

Q: What inspired Ruto to seek out this agreement with Haiti amid political and socioeconomic turmoil on the ground?
A: According to Ruto, Kenya’s history of partnering with countries to support their development efforts has led this initiative, which aims at fostering stability and peace efforts in Haiti.
Q: Are there any provisions or stipulations in Kenya’s plan to deploy a peacekeeping mission to support the stability and security processes in Haiti?
A: The plan is to abide by all international requirements outlined by the UN, and our military officials will work towards securing Haiti’s stability following all UN and African Union treaties, rules, and orders.
Q: Kenyans are concerned as Ruto spent $6 billion for Kenya’s domestic issues since the previous Administration and are worried about other expenditure such as $1 million trip for this meeting the president mentioned, how responds?
A: Ruto clarifies that the sums spent for Kenya’s and Haiti are separate and this budget should not be correlated as well as he acknowledges some misinformation regarding the figure he gave and the public funds that are being re allocated towards education and other productive ventures