President Ruto cry foul over funding gaps, poorly resourced Kenya led peace mission in Haiti in New York

Nairobi has now backtracked from earlier assertions that painted a well-resourced Kenyan led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti and cried foul over massive funding gaps and poorly resourced troops force during a high-level meeting on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York in which President William Ruto strongly criticised the international community over shortfalls.

Earlier this year, the Kenyan government claimed there is enough money to continue the Haiti mission despite USA pull out adding that the move by the United States to freeze funds to the un-backed mission in Haiti is largely insignificant.

Yesterday, President Ruto said that pledges made to support the mission have not translated into delivery, leaving the mission operating well below capacity and exposed to serious risks.

President Ruto warned that the gap between promises and delivery has left the Kenyan-led force operating at only 40 per cent capacity describing the inaction as “unacceptable.”

He further cautioned that fragile gains against gang violence risk being reversed unless urgent, decisive measures are taken.

“The situation in Haiti today is indefensible and simply wrong,” Ruto said. “If we don’t correct the mistakes of the past, we will most unlikely succeed.”

He lamented that the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission had been undermined by chronic shortfalls in international backing citing the failure to deploy the initially promised 2,500 security personnel, inadequate armored vehicles and logistical support, and unreliable equipment.

On his part, the United States Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said the US and Panama had worked with Haiti to introduce a UN Security Council resolution to establish a larger gang-suppression force with a broader mandate and a UN support office for Haiti.

The UN Security Council is set to vote in the coming days on the resolution, co-sponsored by the US and Panama, that would authorise a Chapter VII GSF with more than 5,500 personnel.

Christopher Landau, who also addressed the meeting, agreed that the MSS lacks the mandate and resources to counter escalating gang violence.

“The time for action is now,” he said, urging swift approval of the resolution before the MSS mandate expires in eleven days’ time, on October 2, 2025.

He emphasised that the proposal has the backing of Haiti’s transitional government and all 32 members of the Organization of American States.

“All 32 members of the Organisation of American States have also signed onto a joint statement calling for the urgent passing of this resolution,” Landau added.

Haiti Transitional Presidential Council President Laurent Saint-Cyr and President Nataša Pirc Musar of Slovenia were among those present.

Landau said the new force would consist of 5,500 personnel, more than five times the size of the current MSS.

While commending the United States for providing vehicles, Ruto noted that most were secondhand and frequently broke down, exposing officers to serious risks.

“They stepped up, but many vehicles broke down in dangerous places, putting our personnel in great danger,” he said, adding that plans to establish forward operating bases to hold gang-cleared territory stalled due to lack of logistics.

“We didn’t however get any useful support from any other quarter,” Ruto said. “I must be as candid as I can on this matter because I believe the situation in Haiti can be solved. It is not mission impossible.”

Kenya deployed its first contingent of 200 police officers to Port-au-Prince in June 2025, later joined by personnel from Guatemala, El Salvador, Jamaica, the Bahamas, and Canada. The mission now totals 989 officers—735 of them Kenyan.

Turning to the proposed UN resolution that would transform the MSS into a more robust Gang Suppression Force (GSF), Ruto stressed that the successor mission must be backed by predictable resources, reliable logistics, and a clear mandate.

“If we are sending an additional security team to Haiti, the mandate must be clear. Number one, we must be very clear on what it is supposed to achieve. Number two, we must have a predictable resource package,” he said.

Ruto pledged that Kenya would remain engaged in Haiti and play its role in the transition to the GSF, but insisted that the international community must no longer fail the Haitian people.

President Ruto noted that when the MSS first arrived, gangs controlled the airport and many people considered it unsafe to land.

“Today, the airport is operational, with passenger and cargo flights flying from and landing at the same airport,” he said.

He added that the MSS had secured the presidential palace, reclaimed police headquarters and training academy from gangs, and reopened schools and hospitals.

They also cleared blocked routes into most townships where gangs had been charging for access.

“The port had also been captured. Today, the port is operational, with cargo moving in and out, and we have our security personnel stationed there,” he said.

The President also honoured the courage and sacrifice of Kenya Police officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty, standing for peace and stability in Haiti.

“We particularly honour three Kenyan officers – Samuel Tomoi Kaetuai, Benedict Kabiru, and Kennedy Nzuve – who lost their lives in the line of duty. May their precious souls rest in eternal peace,” he said.