Daniel Foote says the Haiti mission plan was created by US Ambassador Meg Whitman before Ruto gave his approval.
Daniel Foote, former US envoy to Haiti, claims that Kenya’s decision to lead the peacekeeping mission in Haiti was more about money than peace. In an interview, he said the deal was good business for poor countries, especially those that often take part in international missions like Bangladesh and Pakistan.
He also stated that Kenya saw this as an opportunity to receive funds and boost its image globally. Foote believes the push for this deal did not come from Kenya itself.
“From what I can tell, the US Ambassador to Kenya, Meg Whitman, came up with this idea on her own,” Foote said.
Whitman Blamed for Drafting the Plan Before Ruto’s Backing
Foote claimed that Meg Whitman had already created the Haiti deployment plan even before President Ruto gave it the green light. He added that once Whitman approached Ruto, the president quickly accepted the idea since it would give him more exposure on the global stage.
“She got interest from President William Ruto of Kenya, and it’s a cash cow for peacekeeping countries,” he said.
According to Foote, the US found it easy to convince Kenya, and President Ruto agreed to lead the mission because it would also benefit his international image.
The US government had pledged Ksh13 billion to support the mission, which Foote says is what attracted Kenya. He has spoken openly against the plan, warning that it may not go as expected.
“This is more of a cash grab by President Ruto, whose country is going to receive a lot of money in doing this,” Foote added.
Foote also pointed out that many Kenyans are not happy about sending police to Haiti, and that public resistance is something that should not be ignored.
Kenyan Government Responds and US Calls for Regional Support
Despite Foote’s comments, Foreign Affairs PS Korir Sing’oei dismissed them as baseless, saying the country’s decision was made with the right intentions.
At the same time, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged American States to step in and support the mission. He told the Senate that the Organisation of American States (OAS) should now take a bigger role in helping Kenya stabilise Haiti.
“If ever there was a regional crisis for which an organisation like the OAS should exist, it is the one Haiti is going through today,” Rubio said.
Foote also warned of language challenges during the operation, saying Kenyan officers may find it hard to communicate with locals in Haiti, which could create more problems on the ground.
