The Trump administration has outlined its position on Kenya’s leadership of the U.N.-backed Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti, making continued U.S. financing dependent on United Nations reforms.
Speaking to Reuters on September 24, U.S. Charge d’Affaires in Haiti Henry Wooster cautioned that Washington’s backing will run out at the end of December if the U.N. Security Council fails to approve a U.S. proposal to reorganize and expand the mission.
“The U.S. provision of support for the MSS and what we have been providing will expire at the end of December,” Wooster told journalists, adding that he would not speculate on future funding choices. This puts the fate of the Kenyan-led force squarely on the outcome of upcoming Security Council discussions.
On the same day, President William Ruto met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York. “Kenya has been a reliable partner to the U.S. as we pursue peace and security both in Africa and Haiti,” Rubio said. “When I met with President Ruto in New York, we discussed U.S.-Kenyan security cooperation and opportunities to increase U.S. commercial investment in Kenya.”
Kenya deployed officers in June 2024 to lead the MSS, but the mission has struggled with shortages in funding, troops, and essential equipment. Addressing Reuters on September 24, Ruto urged partners to step up. “We need more numbers, we need more logistics, we need more equipment, and we need more financial support to be able to carry this through,” he said.
At the U.N. General Assembly, Ruto expressed frustration that the global community has failed to adequately back Haiti. U.N. figures show the mission’s trust fund has only $113 million, half of it from Canada and $15 million from the U.S., far below the hundreds of millions required annually. The mission’s current mandate expires on October 2, raising pressure for urgent action.
Meanwhile, controversy has emerged at home after police officials contradicted Ruto on the fate of officer Benedict Kabiru, who went missing in Haiti in March 2025. While the President honored Kabiru as one of three Kenyan officers killed during the mission, police leaders insist he is alive. Kabiru’s family lawyer has accused authorities of implying the President misled the public.
As questions over funding and the safety of Kenyan officers mount, the future of the Haiti mission, and Kenya’s role at its helm, remains uncertain.
By Lucky Anyanje
