Kenyan police arrive in Haiti to combat gang violence June 25

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Kenyan police to go to Haiti to fight gang violence

Kenyan police forces are preparing to go to Haiti on June 25 as part of a UN-backed mission to combat gang violence in the country. Several other media outlets cited AFP as saying government and police sources said preparations were underway to ensure the controversial mission leaves.

Kenya has offered to send 1,000 police officers, along with personnel from several other countries including Benin, the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados and Chad, to stabilize Haiti. However, the deployment has run into legal hurdles in Kenya. In January, a Kenyan court suspended the mission, ruling that the government did not have the power to send police abroad without special authorization. That authorization was granted on March 1, but a small opposition party has filed a new appeal in an attempt to block the process.

Despite these obstacles, President William RutoEnthusiastic supporters of the mission recently said the deployment would take place within weeks. “Departure on Tuesday this week,” An unnamed source from the Ministry of Interior confirmed the news. A senior police source also confirmed that “The team is preparing to depart for Haiti on Tuesday.” The two reserve teams left Kenya last week and yesterday, Saturday.

The mission, approved by a UN Security Council resolution last October, is aimed at supporting Haitian police in their fight against gangs terrorizing the population. The United States did not provide personnel but was heavily involved in the logistics of the operation.

However, the mission has faced criticism over its respect for human rights and its funding. Human Rights Watch, a non-governmental organization, expressed concerns in late May. In addition, Kenyan police are often accused of excessive use of force and extrajudicial killings. On Friday, an NGO that monitors police activity said it was investigating allegations that a 29-year-old man was shot dead by police following a protest in Nairobi.

Despite controversy and criticism, Kenya’s mission in Haiti is moving forward, highlighting the Kenyan government’s determination to combat armed gang violence in Haiti.