Following reports that the United States Government has cut funding for the Multinational Security Support mission in Haiti, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei has clarified the implications of the move.
In a statement on February 5, Sing’oei explained that the mission was funded by the United Nations (UN) Trust Fund which has other donors across the world including Canada, France, Turkey, Spain, Italy, and Algeria.
According to him, President Donald Trump's decision to cut funding will not cripple the mission’s operations as there is already sufficient funding to last the mission until September 2025.
“While un-disbursed US contribution to the Trust Fund of $15 million (Ksh1.9 billion in current exchange rates) has been paused as per presidential directive, the Fund has sufficient resources to continue underwriting the Mission until the end of September 2025,” Sing’oei stated.
He further revealed that by the end of last year, the countries mentioned above had already pledged US$110.3 million (Ksh14.2 billion in current exchange rates). Of this, $85 million (Ksh10.9 billion in current exchange rates) had been received by the Trust Fund including substantial amounts from the United States.
The Kenyan-led MSS mission was established in 2023 by the United Nations Security Council resolution (UNSCR) and includes deployments of police officers from Guatemala, Jamaica, El Salvador, Bahamas, and Belize.
PS Sing'oei also divulged plans to transition the mission into a full United Nations (UN) mission noting, "The transition of the Mission to a full UN Mission to ensure financial sustainability is a key priority to which Kenya and all partners are committed."
On Tuesday evening, the UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric revealed that President Trump had been in contact with the UN confirming the freezing of Ksh1.7 billion meant for the mission.
“We received an official notification from the United States asking for the immediate stop work order on the mission contribution,” Dujarric stated.
This move came days after President William Ruto revealed that he had reached an agreement with the US President who had pledged his support for the mission.
Speaking during a Sunday service at the Global Cathedral Church in Nairobi on January 26, Ruto dismissed any concerns about the US dropping out of the mission following the reelection of President Trump.
"I was requested by the President of the US to provide Kenya's security diplomacy that is also legendary and known to support Haiti. Now, I am very proud that even President Trump, with the new administration, supports Kenya's mission,'' Ruto announced.
This latest move by President Trump is among the sweeping changes he has been exerting since resuming office, including suspending foreign aid for 90 days.
