Sifuna claims Ruto has personal interests in Haiti mission
By Mary Ouko, February 1, 2024
Nairobi senator Edwin Sifuna now claims that President William Ruto’s persistence on the deployment of police officers to Haiti is because he has personal interests.
Speaking during an interview with a local TV station on Thursday, February 1, 2024, Sifuna noted that Ruto’s defiance over the deployment is ill-intent and is linked to private pecuniary interests which will emerge later.
“The question I ask myself is what is the thing that Ruto is going to gain from this deployment in Haiti because it doesn’t make sense to anyone else; to ordinary Kenyans, to the courts, the courts have declared it an unconstitutional move, why is he insisting?
“I cannot think of any other reason other than pecuniary interest and it will emerge in the fullness of time we will see that this deployment was not done in the interest of the people of Kenya or in the interest of the people of Haiti. It is private pecuniary interests which will emerge later,” he said.
The President vowed to proceed with the deployment of officers to Haiti despite the court terming it unconstitutional.
“The government of Kenya takes note of the High Court’s ruling regarding the deployment of the Kenya police to help in the multi-national security support (MSS) mission for the restoration of law and order in Haiti.
“While the government respects the rule of law, we have however made the decision to challenge the high court’s verdict forthwith. Kenya has an outstanding track record of contributing to peacekeeping missions internationally in countries such as; South Sudan, Namibia, Croatia, Liberia, Sierra Leone among others. The government reiterates its commitment in honoring its international obligations as a member of the community and comity of nations,” Ruto said.
Recently, Ruto while speaking during the Italian-Africa summit in Rome, noted that the mission will still proceed as expected soon as next week adding that Haiti asked for assistance months ago.
“So that mission can go ahead as soon as next week, if all the paperwork is done between Kenya and Haiti on the bilateral route that has been suggested by the court,” Ruto said following an Italian-Africa summit in Rome.