Kenya is now ready to deploy 1,000 police officers to Haiti to lead a multinational mission that will help restore law and order in the Caribbean nation.
This follows the signing of an agreement, a reciprocal instrument, between Kenya and Haiti by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki and Haiti Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers Alix Richard.
The signing was witnessed by President William Ruto and Haiti Prime Minister Ariel Henri on Friday at State House, Nairobi.
Others present during the occasion were Water Cabinet Secretary Zachary Njeru, Inspector-General of Police Japheth Koome, and National Security Advisor Monica Juma, among others.
“From Kenya, we are ready for this deployment, and I request all the other partners across the globe to step up so that we can respond in good time,” said President Ruto.
Prime Minister Henri thanked President Ruto and the people of Kenya for offering to lead the Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti, which was meant to stabilize the country.
“What this mission is bringing is hope for the future of humankind, for a people who cannot see how they will live tomorrow,” the prime minister said.
He pledged that his government would accord the Kenyan contingent all the necessary support to make the mission successful.
The Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti was authorized by the United Nations Security Council on October 2, 2023, under Resolution 2699.
This followed widespread gang violence that has rendered much of the country lawless and ungovernable.
However, the High Court in January blocked the deployment of Kenyan police officers to Haiti noting that the National Security Council lacks authority to deploy police officers outside the country.
Justice Chacha Mwita ruled that a reciprocal agreement with Haiti was needed.
“Article 240 does not mandate the Council to deploy police officers outside Kenya. Deployment should be as provided for in part 14 of the Act and only to a reciprocating country. It is not contested that there is no reciprocal arrangement between Kenya and Haiti and for that reason, there can be no deployment of police to that country,” Justice Mwita stated.
Kenya was set to deploy 1000 officers to the Caribbean nation in February this year. Other countries that have pledged forces for the Haiti mission include Benin, Chad, Bangladesh, Barbados, and The Bahamas.
Also Read: ODM Lists 6 Reasons Why Kenya Should Not Deploy Police Officers To Haiti
