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Kenyan President William Ruto on Saturday commended the establishment of a Presidential Transition Council in gang-riddled Haiti. 

“I welcome the formal Proclamation by Decree establishing the Presidential Transition Council (PTC) of the Republic of Haiti. This decision is evident of the collective courage and singular sacrifice of the Haitian Council of Cabinet to forge a Haiti free of violence and to entrench a new democratic administration.” President Ruto said in a statement posted on X. 

He further suggested that the transition council move with speed to appoint a Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Kenya, he said, is confident that the Caribbean nation’s new political leadership will lay a strong foundation for resolving the ongoing gang crisis in Haiti.

“Restoration of security, affords the Haitian people a political transition and ushers in sustainable peace and development. Kenya reiterates its strong solidarity with Haiti and stands ready to make its contribution within the framework elaborated in the UN Security Council Resolution 2699 of 2023,” Ruto said on Saturday.

Gang violence in Haiti has killed 1,554 people so far this year while dozens have been lynched by so-called self-defense brigades, the UN human rights office said earlier in a statement.