President William Ruto said Wednesday he had reassured the United States that Kenya would lead a multinational mission to tackle spiralling violence in Haiti once a presidential council was set up in the Caribbean nation. 

The East African country announced Tuesday it was putting on hold plans to send police to  gang-ridden Haiti, throwing the future of the UN-backed mission in doubt. 

The move came after Haiti's Prime Minister Ariel Henry said he had agreed to step aside in a bid to staunch worsening violence that has left public services shattered, many people displaced and bodies strewn in the streets.