Haitian Protesters Rally at Kenyan Embassy in US
A gathering of Haitian citizens living in the United States organized protests outside the Kenyan embassy in the USA on Thursday.
These demonstrators expressed their opposition to President William Ruto’s choice to send a thousand troops for a peacekeeping operation in Haiti, a nation ravaged by conflict.
The protesters from the Caribbean displayed signs bearing messages directed at Kenya’s leader, urging Ruto to halt the intended deployment to Haiti.
As they marched around the Kenyan embassy in the US, the impassioned demonstrators loudly called out President Ruto’s name, insisting on a reversal of the decision to dispatch Kenyan forces to Haiti.
The demonstrators alleged that the US government was fostering gang violence in Haiti, finding it contradictory for America to then sponsor a peacekeeping endeavor in the conflict-torn nation.
Expressing their discontent with the impending deployment, the protestors declared, “What Ruto is about to do is to invade Haiti. Haitians say no to occupation.”
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The demonstrations erupted shortly after President Ruto and US President Joe Biden held a joint press conference, reiterating their dedication to quelling unrest in Haiti.
Regarding the deployment, Ruto clarified that the mission had been endorsed by Kenyans, not the US as claimed, emphasizing Kenya’s readiness to intervene in Haiti’s gang-related turmoil.
Kenya’s involvement in Haiti isn’t tied to historical events, emphasized Ruto. He underscored that the USA lacked the authority to enlist Kenya in Haiti; rather, it was a decision made by the Kenyan people themselves.
Taking ownership, Ruto stated, “As Kenya’s President, I authorized this decision. It’s the responsibility of Kenyan citizens to deploy their troops through established channels, following due process.”
Addressing concerns, President Biden clarified that direct US involvement in the mission could be misconstrued, potentially exacerbating the situation in Haiti. Hence, the US sought Kenya’s assistance to quell the violence in the Caribbean nation.
Haitian Protesters Rally at Kenyan Embassy in US