As efforts to restore peace in Haiti continue, major challenges have been encountered, particularly a lack of funds and the shortage of security officers who had initially been promised for the multinational operation.
For instance, there had been a pledge of 1,205 officers from different countries to support the mission.
However, the current deployment stands at 989 officers, with Kenya contributing the largest contingent of 735.
Other countries include Guatemala with 150 officers, El Salvador with 78, Jamaica with 23, the Bahamas with 3, and Canada with 1.
Speaking during the High-Level Meeting on Haiti in New York on Monday, September 22, President William Ruto expressed concern that the numbers remain far below what was pledged.
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In addition, he pointed out that the resources provided are also insufficient to sustain the scale of operations required in the troubled nation.
"If we are sending an additional team, the mandate must be clear. We must also have a predictable resource package. It cannot be what Kenya has been through, which is a game of guesswork, if we are serious about solving the matter of Haiti,' he said.
Ruto called on the international community to rise to the occasion, stressing that Haitians could not be abandoned in the face of violence.
"The international community must stand up for the people of Haiti. The gangs, in my opinion, are cowards who have literally gone into hiding, often resurfacing with guerrilla warfare tactics," he added.
Earlier in the month, Ruto held a meeting with Edgar Leblanc, a member of the Haitian Transitional Presidential Council, in Ethiopia.
In a statement on Sunday, September 8, Ruto said Leblanc led the Haitian delegation to the Africa-CARICOM Summit in Addis Ababa.
Ruto and Leblanc stressed the need for a successor UN Security Council resolution to ensure sustainable international support in Haiti.
Leblanc thanked Kenya for sending troops to help stabilize Haiti, which has been plagued by gang violence and political instability.
"Held a bilateral meeting with Mr Edgar Leblanc, member of the Transitional Presidential Council of the Republic of Haiti, who is leading the Haitian delegation to the second Africa-CARICOM Summit in Addis Ababa.
"Mr Leblanc conveyed Haiti’s gratitude for the professionalism and dedication demonstrated by Kenyan troops. Noting the ongoing discussions in the region and the UN Security Council, we called for a successor UN Security Council Resolution that secures sustainable support for Haiti’s security efforts," he stated.
