Kenyan President William Ruto arrives in the United States on May 20 for his first state visit, which will last until May 24. This marks the first time in over fifteen years that an African leader has been welcomed for a state visit by Washington.
President Ruto will spend two days in Atlanta before heading to Washington, D.C., where he will meet with President Joe Biden at the White House on Thursday. According to Nairobi, this visit signifies a “consolidation” of the U.S.-Kenya relationship. The agenda includes discussions on trade relations, economic investments, and various security issues.
One of the key topics expected to dominate discussions in Washington is the crisis in Haiti. Last year, Kenya committed to leading a multinational mission to combat gangs on the Caribbean island and pledged to send 1,000 police officers.
However, the mission has faced delays. Recent reports from Kenyan media suggest that approximately 200 officers might arrive in Haiti this week. Korir Sing’oei, Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, addressed the matter during a press briefing in Nairobi on Sunday.
“The government is finalizing preparations for the deployment,” Sing’oei stated. “I can confirm with certainty that this deployment will occur in the coming days or weeks.”
Challenges and Legal Controversies
The deployment faces significant legal challenges. On May 16, an opposition party in Kenya filed a lawsuit to block the deployment, citing a January ruling by the High Court of Nairobi. The court had deemed the deployment of Kenyan police to Haiti “unconstitutional, illegal, and invalid,” primarily due to the lack of a reciprocal agreement between the two nations. Although such an agreement was signed in March, opponents argue that there is no functioning government in Haiti capable of legitimizing it.
The Kenyan Bar Association also criticized the announcement of an imminent deployment, insisting that judicial requirements had not been met and that sending police to Haiti remained “unconstitutional and illegal.”
Contrary to speculation, a Haitian official mentioned President Ruto might visit Port-au-Prince. However, Korir Sing’oei firmly denied this possibility during Sunday’s press conference. “There is no chance that President Ruto will visit Port-au-Prince,” he declared.
This state visit underscores the strengthening ties between the United States and Kenya while highlighting the complexities and legal entanglements surrounding international interventions in crises like Haiti.