- The President said Kenya has been at the forefront in helping countries in Africa regain peace and stability and Haiti would not be an exception.
- The President added that Kenya has deployed 5,000 troops in Somalia on a peacekeeping mission.
President William Ruto on Wednesday defended government's move to deploy police officers to gang-ravaged Haiti. https://rb.gy/gk7sjh
Image: NANCY AGUTU
President William Ruto on Wednesday defended government's move to deploy police officers to gang-ravaged Haiti.
While responding to questions during a Q and A session at the White House, Ruto said it is Kenya's responsibility to help countries in distress.
The President added that Kenya has been at the forefront in helping countries in Africa regain peace and stability and Haiti would not be an exception.
"I made a commitment to Kenyans to sort out insecurity in the North Rift, I have followed that with action. As we speak there are 3,000 military officers in the North Rift and 2,000 police officers in the North Rift," the President said.
"We have renovated the first 15 schools and reopened 20 schools that were closed which is ongoing. We have made tremendous progress to create security at home."
He explained that while sending the police to Haiti, the government is making progress in solving the banditry menace in the North Rift.
"Even as we were deploying troops and police officers in our own country in North Rift to sort out the banditry problem, we still deployed 1000 troops to DRC Congo because that is our neighbourhood," Ruto said.
The President added that Kenya has deployed 5,000 troops in Somalia on a peacekeeping mission.
"This deployment is equally our responsibility and Haiti should not be an exception. That is why deploying 1,000 security men to Haiti speaks to the same belief and commitment to peace and security.
The President said that Kenya's participation i peace peacekeeping mission in Haiti is about Kenyan belief in peace and security of humanity.
"We don't find that the US is committing Kenya, because the US cannot commit Kenya. I'm the President of Kenya and it is me to make that decision. It is the people of Kenya to commit their troops using their structures," he added.
Ruto said that Kenyans understand insecurity and instability anywhere in the world is instability to everyone.
On Tuesday, the first 100 Kenyan police officers arrived as peacekeepers in Haiti.
Another 900 are due to follow as Kenya takes up leadership of the multiple foreign forces helping to restore law and order in Haiti.
Deputy Inspector General of Administration Police Noor Gabow is leading the delegation that visited Port au Prince last year for planning and reconnaissance.
Gabow will serve as the Force Commander of the Multinational Security Support Mission and has already arrived in the gang violence-hit Caribbean country.
The US Defense Department has landed more than 37 flights in Haiti’s Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port au Prince since late April, local media said.
Kenyan troops will be used to guard the airport and other key installations.
The airport, along with the neighbouring Guy Malary domestic airport, had been shut to commercial and regular flights since armed gangs launched attacks on February 29 against state institutions.