Biden Praises Ruto's Leadership During Historic State Visit

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. President Joe Biden hailed Kenyan President William Ruto's leadership on Thursday, congratulating him on his intervention in politically unstable Haiti. President Ruto's presence at the White House marks the first state visit to the United States by an African leader in more than 15 years.

"We are going to provide logistics, intelligence, and equipment. In fact, some of the equipment has already arrived. Kenya is strengthening its police force and other countries are planning to do the same. The United States is going to support the collective effort in this area. Of course, Kenya is not going it alone. We are working with Congress to provide $300 million for the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, and an additional $60 million for equipment support. We have also received and continue to receive significant contributions from other partners. President Ruto and I agree that the Haitian people deserve better, that they deserve peace and security," said President Biden.

The 1,000 Kenyan officers preparing to deploy to Haiti will be part of a multinational force backed by $300 million in U.S. support, though no American troops will be involved.

"Kenya believes that the responsibility of peace and security anywhere in the world, including in Haiti, is the collective responsibility of all nations and all peoples," Ruto said.

The Biden administration has praised Kenya for stepping up in Haiti when so few other countries have agreed to do so. Haiti, the Western Hemisphere’s poorest nation, has been mired in political instability and natural disasters for decades.

The Haiti mission will also include support from the Bahamas, Barbados, Benin, Chad, and Bangladesh. The collaborative effort aims to bring stability to Haiti and address the urgent need for peace and security in the region.

President Ruto's visit underscores the strengthening of U.S.-Kenya relations and highlights Kenya's significant role in international peacekeeping efforts. The Biden administration's commitment to supporting Kenya's mission in Haiti reflects a broader strategy to foster global cooperation and stability.