KENYAN police are expected to deploy to Haiti within weeks to address gang violence, despite ongoing court challenges that have delayed the mission, President William Ruto announced on Sunday.
Kenya aims to lead a United Nations-backed mission to stabilise the Caribbean nation, which has been plagued by violence, poverty, and political instability. The East African nation plans to send 1,000 officers as part of the mission, joining personnel from several other countries.
‘The people of Haiti are maybe waiting, by the grace of God, that probably by next week or the other week, we shall send our police officers to restore peace,’ Ruto said during a visit to Central Kenya on Sunday.
The UN Security Council approved the mission in October last year, but a Kenyan court delayed the deployment in January, citing the government’s lack of authority to send police officers abroad without prior agreement. The government secured this agreement on March 1, and Ruto told the BBC last month that he expected Kenyan forces to deploy to Haiti within weeks.
However, a small opposition party in Kenya filed a fresh lawsuit to block the deployment. Kenya’s High Court is set to consider the case on June 12.
In addition to Kenya, other countries expressing willingness to join the mission include Benin, the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, and Chad. Despite international support, the mission has faced scrutiny from global monitors like Human Rights Watch, which raised concerns about the mission’s funding and the conduct of Kenyan police.
Human rights groups have accused Kenyan police of using excessive force and carrying out unlawful killings. These concerns add another layer of complexity to the planned deployment and highlight the challenges in executing international peacekeeping missions.
As the situation develops, the Kenyan government remains committed to supporting Haiti in restoring peace, but must navigate both domestic legal hurdles and international scrutiny.
