SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Kenya Police is set to spearhead Haiti gang violence avert mission. This comes after a UN Security Council vote. There are major concerns locally of Kenyan Police preparedness to lead the operation.
United Nations Security Council on Monday, 02 October voted to send a multi-agency force to Haiti. Kenya is set to lead the operations, which is intended to combat violent organized gangs in the disturbed Caribbean nation.
The resolution that was designed by the United States was voted with thirteen members in favor and 2 absenteeism from Russia as well as China.
The resolution permits the authorization of deployment of forces annually, which should be reviewed after nine months. This deployment will be one of a kind since it comes 20 years when a similar mission was initiated by the UN to Haiti.
Deployment date is not yet set, though, Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Alfred Mutua hinted that the force should be in Haiti by January, 2024.
Kenya intends to send approximately one thousand police officers in the mission.
“The East African nation is ready to deploy a contingent of 1,000 police officers who will lead a multinational force in Haiti. Kenya will train and assist Haitian police to restore normalcy in their country,” said Alfred Mutua – Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Minister.
“Kenya had resolved to help Haiti because it aligns with the African Union’s diaspora policy of promoting Pan Africanism. Kenya stands with persons of African descent across the world, including those in the Caribbean,” added Mutua.
However, these developments come amid growing concerns of Kenya Police’s level of preparedness and competence to lead the mission.
Kenya’s security experts have warned that there are serious challenges awaiting the team that would be dispatched to Haiti.
“Experience alone might not be enough to deal with the situation in Haiti, describing the mission as very risky. Dealing with well organized gangs will be a tall order for Kenya forces,” said Hassan Khannenje, director of Nairobi-based security research and policy think tank, HORN International Institute for Strategic Studies.
Besides, Critics of Monday’s approved Kenyan-led mission have raised concerns that police in the East Africa nation have long been accused of unprofessionalism acts such as use of torture, brutality, deadly force and other abuses.
Edited by Judy J. Rotich and Newsdesk Manager
