Why Kenya Will Send 1000 Police Officers To Haiti

Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua has announced that the Kenyan government will send one thousand police officers to Haiti.

In a statement on Saturday, July 29, Mutua said the officers will train their Haitian counterparts, protect strategic installations, and help to restore normalcy in the North American country.

“At the request of Friends of Haiti Group of Nations, Kenya has accepted to positively consider leading a Multi-National Force to Haiti.

“Kenya's commitment is to deploy a contingent of 1,000 police officers to help train and assist Haitian police restore normalcy in the country and protect strategic installations,” read the statement in part.

CS Mutua noted that the move is in line with the African Union's diaspora policy and Kenya’s own commitment to Pan-Africanism.

“Kenya stands with persons of African descent across the world, including those in the Caribbean, and aligns with the African Union's diaspora policy and our own commitment to Pan Africanism, and in this case to ‘reclaiming of the Atlantic crossing’,” he added.

Mutua pointed out that the proposed deployment will crystalize after a mandate from the UN Security Council has been obtained.

“Kenya's proposed deployment will crystalize once a mandate from the UN Security Council is obtained and other Kenyan constitutional processes are undertaken,” he noted.

The Foreign Affairs CS further mentioned that an assessment mission by a task team of the Kenya Police has been scheduled in the next few weeks and will inform and guide the mandate and operational requirements of the Haiti mission.

The North American country has been facing political instability since the elimination of President Jovenel Moise in July 2021.