Kenyan President William Ruto announced on Sunday that Kenyan police forces are set to embark on a mission to tackle gang violence in Haiti in the coming weeks, despite legal hurdles that have slowed down the process.
Kenya is taking the lead in a United Nations-supported initiative aimed at stabilizing Haiti, which has been grappling with widespread violence, economic challenges, and political turmoil.
The deployment is expected to comprise 1,000 Kenyan officers, alongside personnel from various other nations.
Ruto expressed confidence during a visit to central Kenya, stating, “The people of Haiti are hopeful that, with divine intervention, our police officers will arrive next week or the week after to restore peace.”
While a UN Security Council resolution approved the mission last October, legal challenges in Kenya delayed its implementation, with a court ruling in January questioning the government’s authority to dispatch officers abroad without prior agreements.
However, the necessary agreement was secured on March 1, and Ruto indicated in a recent BBC interview that he anticipated the Kenyan contingent would be dispatched soon.
Yet, a minor opposition party in Kenya has initiated a fresh legal challenge to impede the deployment, with the High Court scheduled to hear the case on June 12.
In addition to Kenya, several other countries, including Benin, the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, and Chad, have expressed readiness to contribute to the mission.
Concerns have been raised by Human Rights Watch regarding potential human rights violations and uncertainties surrounding funding for the initiative, particularly given past allegations against Kenyan police for excessive use of force and unlawful killings.
