Kenyan pledges commitment to sending police officers to Haiti as gang violence escalate

In a decisive move, the Kenyan government has declared its determination to proceed with the deployment of hundreds of police officers to Haiti, despite the escalating wave of gang violence plaguing the Caribbean nation.

On Monday, Kenya’s Interior Minister, Kithure Kindiki, revealed that the mission, which involves sending approximately 1,000 police officers to Haiti, is currently in the pre-deployment stage.

Minister Kindiki emphasized that crucial laws and enforcement measures, including detention and arrests, have been finalized in preparation for the deployment.

The government has successfully addressed all legal issues raised in court that had initially blocked the deployment, according to the minister. However, the exact departure date for the officers remains undisclosed.

Meanwhile, Haiti’s Prime Minister, Ariel Henry, has announced his intention to resign in the face of mounting chaos fueled by gangs demanding his removal. Mr. Henry has agreed to step down, paving the way for a transitional authority to grapple with the escalating anarchy within the country.

The decision to send Kenyan police officers to Haiti was solidified during Mr. Henry’s visit to Kenya, where he signed a deal for the deployment of an international security force. This collaboration aims to tackle the violence that erupted as a coalition of gangs attacked police stations and overran two of Haiti’s largest prisons.

The situation escalated to the point where a plane carrying Prime Minister Henry was prevented from landing due to sustained attacks at Haiti’s international airport.

In response to these developments, U.S. Secretary of State Blinken has pledged an additional $100 million to support the 1,000-strong UN-backed security force, which Kenya is expected to lead in Haiti.