Kenya to deploy additional police officers to Haiti

By Robert Mutasi 

Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi announced that Kenya is set to deploy an additional 300 police officers to Haiti. 

This mission will serve to bolster the present security setup in Port-au-Prince, which has been facing increased gang control and violence. 

The new deployment is expected at the beginning of 2025, as well as plans for a fuller United Nations mission before the end of this year.

During bilateral talks with H.E. Philip Edward Davis, Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Mudavadi was keen to point out the big strides the Kenyan mission in Haiti had already scored.

The first batch of 150 Kenyan officers who were deployed last year reportedly stabilised critical infrastructure-which included the airport and the national hospital in Port-au-Prince-as well as major roadways.

"Kenya's involvement has really made a mark on the local security situation," Mudavadi said, adding that the Prime Minister was in agreement.

Haiti has been coping with runaway gang violence that makes much of its urban areas unsafe to transit or live in.

The international community, which Mudavadi said should intervene, was called upon for financial and logistical support by all those who previously promised to help.

He emphasized that sustained effort is required to have peace and normalcy restored in Haiti and expressed Kenya's commitment to its Caribbean neighbors amid the turmoil.

The Prime Minister showed his appreciation to the government of Kenya for continued support in finding a solution to Haiti's security problems. 

He said that the Kenyan police force had played a key role that was leading toward the normalization of all essential services needed for the recovery process in the country.

This commitment of deployment of an extra 300 officers marks a significant escalation in Kenya's involvement, a sure sign of the nation's response to a deteriorating humanitarian and security situation in Haiti.

By reinforcing what was available, Kenya tries to contribute a semblance of stability that could support international dialogue toward long-term solutions for peace in the Caribbean nation.

The Kenyan mission, with its solid international coalition, may be the cornerstone for restoring stability to the region.