New York, USA – September 22, 2025
President William Ruto has urged the international community to provide stronger, predictable, and sustained support for Haiti, warning that without decisive action, hard-won gains from the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission could be lost.
Speaking at a high-level side event on the Haiti mission on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, President Ruto outlined Kenya’s experience leading the MSS, which was authorised by the UN Security Council under Resolution 2699 in 2023.
Kenya deployed its first contingent of 200 police officers to Port-au-Prince in June 2024, joining forces with colleagues from Guatemala, El Salvador, Jamaica, The Bahamas and Canada. Today, the mission has 989 personnel, with 735 drawn from Kenya.
President Ruto recounted the situation upon arrival: the airport and seaport had been under gang control, the presidential palace besieged, police headquarters overrun, and schools and hospitals shut down. He credited the MSS with turning the tide, restoring security at critical state institutions, reopening key transport routes, and enabling hospitals and schools to function again.
“The airport is now operational, the port is moving cargo, police academies are training officers, and schools and hospitals have reopened. Haiti has shown the world that this was not a mission impossible,” Ruto said.
However, the President noted that the mission has operated at just 40 per cent of its intended capacity. He criticised the limited logistical support, saying that only the United States provided vehicles—many of which were second-hand and broke down in hostile areas, putting officers at risk.
“We cannot continue with a game of guesswork. The mandate must be clear, and resources must be predictable. The people of Haiti deserve no less,” he emphasised.
Ruto paid tribute to three Kenyan officers—Samuel Tomoi Kaetuai, Benedict Kabiru, and Kennedy Nzuve—who lost their lives during the mission, honouring them as “heroes of humanity.”
While highlighting MSS successes, the Kenyan leader stressed that peacekeeping alone will not solve Haiti’s crisis. He called for a multi-pronged approach addressing governance, political stability, and socio-economic challenges.
As the UN Security Council prepares to review the MSS mandate in the coming days, Ruto appealed to the international community, particularly the Council’s permanent members, not to “let the people of Haiti down.”
“We will not walk away in haste. A clear and proper transition is essential to safeguard what has been achieved,” he said, reaffirming Kenya’s commitment to continue supporting Haiti.
The MSS, he added, has shown that with determination, global solidarity, and adequate resources, even the toughest peace and security challenges can be overcome.
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