NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenyan police officers are poised for imminent deployment to Haiti, tasked with assisting in curbing the nation’s rampant gang violence. This comes after months of delays due to legal hurdles in Kenya and worsening security conditions in Haiti.
Kenya volunteered last year to lead a multinational force to combat the violence plaguing the Caribbean nation. Gangs currently control vast swathes of the capital, Port-au-Prince, subjecting residents to widespread killings, kidnappings, and sexual violence.
The deployment faced multiple delays. Legal challenges within Kenya and a deteriorating security situation in Haiti, culminating in the acting Prime Minister’s resignation in March, put the mission on hold.
However, the tide appears to be turning. Four officers assigned to the mission, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that weapons and personal belongings were collected on Sunday evening for loading onto a departing plane.
The initial deployment will see several hundred officers arrive in Haiti, followed by the remaining contingent to reach the full force of 1,000 Kenyan officers. A brief stopover in a third country is expected before reaching Haiti. According to a former police officer in contact with the mission, the departure is scheduled for Tuesday.
Kenyan authorities have yet to comment officially on the deployment.
The 2,500-strong mission, primarily funded by the United States, will see personnel contributions from several nations, including Jamaica, the Bahamas, Barbados, Chad, and Bangladesh, joining forces with the Kenyan contingent.
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