Kenya Reverses Course on Haiti Security
The Kenyan government has reversed its position regarding the duties of police officers deployed to a North American nation.
The Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and accompanying delegates have reportedly informed the Haitian government, the United Nations (UN) Representative, and foreign diplomats that Kenyan police deployed to the country will not actively combat crime.
Kenya had initially promised to send troops to the troubled country to assist in dismantling and combating heavily armed gangs that have taken over large portions of the country and wreaked havoc.
As a result of the U-turn, the Kenyan delegation led by the general director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, George Orina, informed their Haitian counterparts and other diplomats that Kenyan police officers would now be tasked with protecting critical government infrastructure.
This consists of airports, seaports, and major roadways.
“The majority of the critical infrastructure they cited is in the control of gangs. Before protecting this critical infrastructure, you must first reclaim them, according to a report in the Miami Herald.
According to the report, the diplomatic community is frustrated by Kenya’s proposal. Additionally, Haitian security experts have deemed Kenya’s plan ineffectual, citing Kenyan unit designations as the Static Protection Force in Kenyan delegation submissions.
ALSO READ: Inside Ruto Team’s NYC Meeting: Haiti Mission Prep
In addition to officials from the Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the 10-person security assessment team also included high-ranking police officers, according to the report.
Notably, the Kenyan delegation was accompanied by U.S. soldiers for protection, and over a dozen State Department officials attended the meeting.
Kenya presented certain requirements to both Haiti and the United States before agreeing to deploy its officers, in addition to a revised strategy for protecting Haitians from criminal organizations.
Despite Haiti’s demand for a minimum of 2,000 police officers, Kenya initially maintained its position to send only 1,000 officers.
In addition, Kenya emphasized that other nations should contribute their own contingent of police officers to fulfill their equitable responsibilities.
The Miami Herald quotes high-ranking government officials as saying, “This is not what some Haitian government ministers had in mind when they agreed in October to appeal for international aid.”
Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua announced on July 29 that Kenya would send officers to Haiti to assist in restoring normalcy.
The United Nations and the United States praised the action.
The United States announced further that it would submit a resolution to the United Nations Security Council authorizing Kenya to command a multinational police force to combat gangs in Haiti.
Kenya Reverses Course on Haiti Security
