The Kenyan government’s intention to send Kenyan police officers to the Caribbean nation to assist in containing the rampant gang violence has sparked protests from Haitians living overseas.
The UN Security Council approved a resolution on Monday establishing a multinational security mission to combat gang-related violence in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. This mission will be overseen by Kenya’s national police agency rather than UN peacekeepers.
However, many stakeholders did not warmly welcome President William Ruto’s plan to dispatch Kenyan officers to the troubled nation, with some comparing it to sending Kenyan soldiers to their concentration camps.
The Haitian National Police force is outgunned and underpaid, and while many stakeholders agree that an intervention is necessary to stop the violence, many believe the Kenyan police were not properly equipped to deal with such a threat that has, in the past, even defeated better-trained troops.
Now, Haitians have joined in on the criticism of President Ruto’s action by taking to the streets, naming him by name, and singing anti-Kenyan chants.
While it has not been established exactly where the protesters gathered at, the video seen by Citizen Digital and shared by an X (formerly Twitter) user show a handful of protesters chanting, “William Ruto… US puppet… Kenya… shame on you!”
The protesters, holding placards and Haitian flags, gathered on the streets, repeating a unified chant. Some of the placards conveyed messages such as ‘Haiti Gangs armed by the USA’ and ‘US out of Haiti!’
Additionally, there was a placard featuring the image of the current Haitian Prime Minister, Ariel Henry, with the inscription: “Ariel Henry, US appointed puppet.”
Many experts have pointed out that a significant portion of the Haitian population, particularly those outside the elite and political circles, do not view Ariel Henry as the legitimate leader. However, the United Nations and the international community, including the United States, recognize him.
Link for the Video;