• At least 1,000 police officers are set to be deployed to the gang-ridden nation.
• At stake is more than Sh30 billion the team will get from various stakeholders for deployment.
Kenyan police officers set to be deployed to Haiti have completed their training ahead of a key court ruling on the plans.
The teams from the Rapid Deployment Unit, Anti-Stock Theft Unit, General Service Unit and Border Patrol Unit completed their training on January 4.
Officials said the team was told to take a brief rest and wait for the court ruling on their planned deployment.
“The team is now ready for deployment after a rigorous training,” said an official, who asked not to be named.
If allowed by court, the team will assemble at GSU Recce Squad headquarters in Ruiru for graduation before departing.
Last November, High Court judge Chacha Mwita said the case on the deployment will be determined on January 26.
In the case, Thirdway Alliance party leader Ekuru Aukot has sued President William Ruto and his administration to block the peacekeeping mission.
At least 1,000 police officers are set to be deployed to the gang-ridden nation.
Aukot argued that Kenya has not ratified any law or treaty to allow the deployment of police officers outside the country.
At stake is more than Sh30 billion the team will get from various stakeholders for deployment.
The team will use the General Service Unit jungle green uniform as their official combat attire for the period it will be in Haiti.
Kenya will take command of the operations of about 3,000 personnel.
The team will use AK-47 rifles as its main weapons.
The officers will be joined by personnel from countries that have agreed to send teams to Haiti.
Chile, Jamaica, Grenada, Paraguay, Burundi, Chad, Nigeria and Mauritius are among the countries that have confirmed the deployment of their officers to Haiti.
A high-powered delegation from Haiti that arrived in Nairobi on a fact-finding mission on the preparation of Kenyan police to be deployed to the Caribbean nation, gave the process the thumbs up.
The team, led by director general of the Haitian National Police Frantz Elbe and Director of Criminal Investigations in Haiti Frédéric Leconte, said it was satisfied and ready to receive the Kenyan officers.
The team landed in Nairobi on December 12 for a three-day tour to understand how the Kenyan police operate.
On December 13, the officials met Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome and other police commanders.
They later visited DCI headquarters, Administration Police Training College, National Police Communications and Command Centre and other highly sensitive and secretive places, officials said.
After the tour, the team left saying Kenya is more than ready to help its country.
“They said they are waiting for our arrival there. They are happy with our preparations,” an official said.
Deputy Inspector General Administration Police Service Noor Gabow, who is leading the Haiti mission, guided the teams during the visit.
In October last year, Cabinet approved the deployment of 1,000 police officers to Haiti, jumping one more legal hurdle in the circuitous approvals needed to have the move get legal backing.