[PHOTOS] Kenya, Haiti sign agreement on police deployment

Kenya and Haiti on Friday signed an agreement on the deployment of 1,000 police officers to the Multi-National Security Support Mission in Haiti.

President Ruto and Haiti Prime Minister Ariel Henry witnessed the signing ceremony in State House Nairobi.

In July 2023, Kenya pledged to offer 1,000 police officers after Haiti appealed for international help with security personnel to assist in its battle against gangs blamed for spiraling violence.

The United Nations estimates some 200,000 Haitians have been displaced during escalating violence, with armed gangs carrying out indiscriminate killings, kidnappings, gang rapes and torching people’s homes.

The United Nations Security Council on October 2, 2023, approved the deployment of a multinational security mission into Haiti, to help curb escalating gang violence in the Caribbean country.

Kenya has been picked to lead the yearlong security mission.

Many of the displaced are now sleeping outside or in makeshift settlements that are crowded and extremely unsanitary.

The UN's children's agency says nearly five million Haitians are going hungry, partly because of gang violence.