Kenya welcomes appoitment of new Haiti PM, affirms mission readiness » Capital News

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 29 — Kenya has welcomed Garry Conille’s appointment as Prime Minister by Haiti’s Presidential Council constituted in April following the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry.

President William Ruto welcomed Tuesday’s announcement with a commitment to support the Caribbean nation to emerge from its current crisis.

“This significant step is not lost on the world and signifying the desire of our brothers and sisters in Haiti to forge forward,” Ruto stated in a congratulatory note on Wednesday.

Haiti’s Presidential Council named Garry Conille the Prime Minister on Tuesday, May 28.

“Kenya expresses its strong solidarity with Haiti, as we look forward to working with you and your government to restore Haiti to a path of sustainable development,” he affirmed.

The development came barely a week after Ruto concluded a State Visit to the United States where Kenya secured key commitments on security and infrastructure.

While winding up his 4-day visit, Ruto told Voice of America’s Hubbah Abdi that Kenya “will show up in Haiti”, adding the move was constitutionally sound amid concerns at home.

Ruto further defended the decision saying it aligns with Kenya’s tradition to support peacekeeping missions and that “Haiti is not going to be an exception”.

Kenya is readying to deploy 1,000 police officers as part of a Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti backed by the United States.

Ruto’s plan ran into headwinds after the High Court termed it unlawful for lack of a reciprocal arrangement with the receiving country.

Justice Chacha Mwita cited constitutional limitations preserving peace missions outside the country to the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).

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Ruto later signed a framework with Prime Minister Henry in March but a resurgence in gang violence in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, forced his resignation.

The inauguration of a nine-member Transitional Presidential Council (TPC) on April 26 set the plan back on course with Ruto endorsing the team’s installation as a crucial step in the political transition in Haiti.

“In implementing the road-map contained in this political accord, Kenya stands ready and willing—in concert with a broad alliance of nations in Africa and CARICOM—to rapidly execute the security support infrastructure envisaged under UN Security Council 2699 (2023),” Ruto said.

Haiti spiraled into chaos following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021 at his private residence in the capital, Port-au-Prince.

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JEREMIAH WAKAYA

Jeremiah Wakaya is a multimedia journalist and Online Editor with a passion for international affairs, constitutional litigation, and governance. 

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