Kenya’s President William Ruto expressed gratitude to the United States for its significant support to Africa during a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday.
“Your support in South Sudan, and what we are doing in the DRC, is crucial. I look forward to discussing how our partnership can help address these challenges,” Ruto said.
During the meeting, Ruto also highlighted his recent visit to Haiti, where he noted progress in improving infrastructure, including the airport, hospital, and police academy. However, he acknowledged that substantial gaps remain and emphasized the need for additional resources.
Ruto is in New York this week for the UN General Assembly. Kenya was the first country to deploy forces as part of a broader U.N. effort to assist Haiti, which has faced ongoing conflict and political instability since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021.
Currently, about 400 Kenyan police are stationed in Haiti. Earlier this month, around two dozen police and soldiers from Jamaica also arrived to support the effort. However, the U.S. and other nations have stated that these forces are insufficient and lack the resources needed to combat gangs that control approximately 80% of Port-au-Prince.
