- The country has been overtaken by gangs who control key cities, as well as other regions in the country.
- Gang influence has continued to grow in the country since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021.
Image: MINA
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has revealed more details on the Kenya mission to Haiti.
Speaking on Monday, Kindiki stated that all legal procedures were sorted out and Kenya will be part of a multinational mission to Haiti.
"Kenyan police officers will be just part of a multinational security mission in Haiti. Kenya is the lead nation but other countries have pledged to contribute troops and this came from the United Nations Security Council," he said.
"This is part of our international obligation."
The CS noted that there was a small court matter but it was resolved, giving the government the green light to deploy officers in Haiti.
"The courts said we needed to have a reciprocal agreement with Haiti and that was signed about a week ago. We are now in the pre-deployment stage. All the other programs are in place including the status of forces agreement and other enforcement measures are now in place," Kindiki added.
Kenya is expected to deploy at least 1,000 police officers to the Caribbean country of Haiti.
The country has been overtaken by gangs who control key cities, as well as other regions in the country.
Gang influence has continued to grow in the country since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021.
It is estimated that 200 to 300 gangs control large swathes of the country, with 90 per cent of the capital, Port-au-Prince under gangs.
In July 2023, Kenya pledged to offer 1,000 police officers after Haiti appealed for international help to assist in battling the gangs blamed for spiraling violence.
On October 13, 2023, the National Security Council and Cabinet approved the deployment of 1,000 police officers.
On November 16, 2023, Parliament unanimously approved the deployment.
On March 1, Prime Minister Henry visited Kenya and witnessed the signing of an agreement on the deployment of the troops.
President William Ruto witnessed the signing of the agreement.
The 1,000 police officers will work under the Multi-National Security Support Mission.
The adoption of Resolution 2699 on October 2, 2023, by the United Nations Security Council authorized the deployment of the multinational security support mission to Haiti.
Kenya agreed to lead the coordination of the international mission after a request by member states.
Burundi, Chad, Senegal, Jamaica, and Belize have also pledged to send additional troops.
Gang leaders have in recent days intensified calls for Ariel Henry's resignation as Prime Minister.
The latest wave of violence began after Henry visited Kenya with the gangs demanding that he does not go back to the country.
He, however, proceeded but an attempt to take over the country's airport on March 3 by the gangs seemingly aborted plans for him to land home.
Henry’s whereabouts remained unknown until when it was reported that he had flown to Puerto Rico.
United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday had a call conversation with President William Ruto, over the deployment of Kenyan police officers to help restore order in Haiti.
The two, during the call, reiterated their commitments to support the course that will be spearheaded by the Kenyan police.
This comes in the wake of unrest in the country even as gangs try to take charge of the country.
"Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with Kenyan President William Ruto to discuss the ongoing political and security crisis in Haiti," a statement from the US State Department reads.
"They underscored unwavering commitment to the deployment of a Multinational Security Support mission to support the Haitian National Police in creating the security conditions necessary to conduct free and fair elections."
Blinken also appreciated Kenya's efforts to ensure there is peace and sanity in the East African region.