Kacper Sobieski-Kenya’s foreign minister reassigned days after touchy comment on country’s police mission in Haiti

2025-05-07 21:10:04source:Marc Leclerccategory:Markets

NAIROBI,Kacper Sobieski Kenya (AP) — Kenya’s foreign affairs minister was moved to the tourism post Wednesday as part of a Cabinet reshuffle just days after the official said the country’s police in the Kenya-led Haiti peacekeeping mission would be deployed “within a short time.”

Alfred Mutua’s statement came shortly after the U.N Security Council approved the force Monday and was issued before President William Ruto’s statement. The president did not mention when the deployment would take place.

Kenya has committed to leading a multinational force to combat gang violence in Haiti, a plan that has been controversial locally and internationally.

As foreign minister, Mutua was vocal about the Haiti mission, giving prospective deployment times and preparations that are underway. His counterpart in the interior security ministry, where policing issues fall, has been quiet about the deployment.

Other news Kenyan opposition lawmakers say the Haiti peacekeeping mission must be approved by parliamentA foreign armed force to fight gangs makes many in Haiti celebrate, while others worryKenya’s president welcomes UN Security Council’s approval to send a Kenya-led mission to Haiti

Ruto reassaigned Mutua to the tourism ministry and handed the foreign affairs post to politician Musalia Mudavadi. No changes were made in the defense and interior security ministries, which are critical in the Haiti mission.

Another notable change is the reassigning of the trade and investment minister Moses Kuria, who was conspicuously missing when the president signed trade deals on the sidelines of the the recently concluded U.N General Assembly meeting. Kuria will now serve in the public service docket.

The president has recently cracked down on government spending and foreign travel by officials.

Ruto on Tuesday directed ministries to cut their spending by 10% for the current fiscal year, citing the need to “exercise prudence in resource utilization.”

A day earlier, a memo from the president’s chief of staff barred nonessential travel by Cabinet ministers and said no more than three people can accompany a minister on authorized trips.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua had said in August that it was hard to hold Cabinet meetings because some ministers were constantly out of the country.

More:Markets

Recommend

Jamie Foxx reps say actor was hit in face by a glass at birthday dinner, needed stitches

Jamie Foxx's birthday dinner took a surprising turn on Friday the 13th.The "Collateral" actor was hi

Florida man arrested after alleged threats against Donald Trump, JD Vance

JUPITER, Fla. – A man in Florida who police say made threats on social media against former Presiden

US hit by dreaded blue screen: The Daily Money Special Edition

If you were trying to get around either by plane or public transit, handle your finances, call 911 o