Kenyan President William Ruto spoke to newsmen at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) in Nairobi during the IDA for Africa Heads of State Summit on April 29, 2024.
This visit marks the first state visit by a Kenyan president to the United States in two decades and the first by an African leader since 2008, described as “historic” by Ruto’s office.
During Thursday’s talks with President Biden, the discussion will focus on trade and security partnerships, including Kenya’s commitment to lead a UN-backed multinational mission to restore order in Haiti, which is plagued by gang-fueled anarchy.
Kenya has pledged 1,000 personnel to the mission, joining forces from several other countries, although major nations like the United States have declined to send their own troops.
The first batch of Kenyan police is expected to arrive in Port-au-Prince this week, despite a recent court challenge in Nairobi against the deployment.
Ruto has defended the mission as a “mission for humanity” to aid Haiti, which has long suffered from poverty, political instability, and natural disasters. However, a new lawsuit claims Ruto’s government is in contempt for ignoring a January court order prohibiting the deployment as unconstitutional and illegal.
Funding remains a significant challenge for the mission. The United States, the largest supporter, has pledged over $300 million since the crisis began, but other countries have been slow to contribute. Ruto will urge the US to rally more financial support for the UN basket fund and commit to curbing the flow of arms into Haiti, particularly from Florida, according to Meron Elias, an analyst at the International Crisis Group.
