On Friday 21st September, His Excellency the President of Kenya Dr. William Samoei Ruto accompanied by Prime Cabinet Secretary Dr. Musalia Mudavadi, Dr. Monicah Juma- National Security Adviser to the President and a host of senior kenya government officials visited Haiti. At Toussaint Louverture International Diplomatic Lounge, several dignitaries were at hand to welcome H.E. the President including CPT President Edgard Leblanc Fils, Acting Prime Minister Ketleen Florestal, as well as Presidential Advisors Louis Gérald Gilles, Smith Augustin, Emmanuel Vertilaire, Leslie Voltaire and Fritz Alphonse Jean, among others.
At hand to receive the President at the airport were also Rameau Normil - DG HNP and SAIG Godfrey Otunge-MSS Force Commander. Other foreign dignitaries included Canadian ambassador to Haiti André François Giroux and senior officials from the USA embassy in Haiti.
H.E President Ruto had a one hour closed door meeting with Members of the TPC and other senior Haitian government officials. He later on visited MSS office headquarters at LSA 2 where he inspected parade, had a tour at the camp and later on held a closed door meeting attended by TPC members, DG HNP, and the MSS leadership team. Force Commander briefed the President on the successes and challenges since the deployment of Kenyan Contingent to MSSM in Haiti in June 2024. Otunge underscored the need for FOBs and the need for deployment of more personnel by the MSS contributing countries. He appreciated the collaboration between HNP and MSS that had seen various key government critical infrastructures retaken from the gangs, key roads pacified and locals slowly returning to their abandoned houses for occupancy. He called upon the international community to equip and support HNP.
In his address to the attendees, President Ruto appreciated the strong collaboration and partnership between HAITIAN National Police (PNH) and MSS which he acknowledged had brought tremendous progress in and around the International Airport, National Police Academy, National Hospital and APN among other areas. He observed that before kenya deployed her troops to Haiti, many critics thought it was a mission impossible.He promised to push for more support and funding from the international stakeholders during the forthcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meeting. The President observed that to maintain the current security momentum by the MSS troops that now include Jamaica and Belize, more contributing countries should deploy promptly to Haiti. He revealed that Kenya was ready to deploy the remaining 600 troops by December 2024 hence fulfilling Kenya’s target of deploying 1,000 personnel.
The President later on addressed the MSS contingents where he praised and hailed their bravery especially after they pacified various roads in Delmas forcing some of the gangs to flee. He encouraged them to maintain the zeal promising that Kenya contingent will not leave Haiti before normalcy returns. He finished his speech by leading the Kenya contingent in a Swahili praise and worship song( amenitendea- God has done for me) before praying for me.
Presidents EDGARD and RUTO later on held a joint presse conference at Salon Diplomatic at the airport where journalists were allowed to field questions before he departed for the USA for the UNGA. Madam Nîmes Katleen Florestal - The Minister of Finance represented the PM Garry Conille who was outside the country.
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