Kenya will take leadership of the UN Security Support Mission in Haiti - President Ruto insists

President William Ruto has reiterated that Kenya will take charge of the UN Security Council approved mission to Haiti despite latest developments that have seen the Caribbean nation's Prime Minister Ariel Henry resign following threats by marauding Haitian hangs.

In a statement on X on Wednesday, Ruto revealed that he had conversed with United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken who he says informed him of plans to establish a new Presidential Council in Haiti to restore order to the troubled nation.

"Had a telephone conversation with United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the developments in Haiti. He briefed me on the decision of the Summit of Caribbean Countries (Caricom) and the US, together with other partners, on the political situation in Haiti," Ruto said.  

"He informed me that a new Presidential Council will be formed shortly to manage the situation in Haiti. I assured Secretary Blinken that Kenya will take leadership of the UN Security Support Mission in Haiti to restore peace and security in Haiti as soon as the Presidential Council is in place under an agreed process.

Henry's premiership was still intact until he embarked on a trip to Kenya on February 29, 2024, to seal the  deal to launch security force to fight gangs in Haiti. Kenya agreed to deploy 1,000 officers in the deal.

The move sparked more violence, with G9 gang leader Jimmy Chérizier, alias Barbecue, calling for Henry's resignation, and demanding that he stays away from the country.

He even threatened dire consequences if Henry did not step down or make any attempt to return to Haiti.

"If Ariel Henry does not step down the country will suffer a genocide. If the international community continues to support Henrythey will lead us directly into a civil war," he told media outlets.

In the Prime Minister's absence, the gangs released over 3,500 inmates from two main prisons on March 5, forcing Haiti's de facto government to issue a 72-hour state of emergency and impose nightly curfews.

The gangs then took control of Haiti's main airport denying Henry's entry into the country upon his return from Kenya. He was forced to land in San Juan, the capital of the Dominican Republic.

His plane was later diverted to the US territory of Puerto Rico where he has remained domiciled until his resignation.