Kenyan police to deploy to Haiti within weeks–Ruto

Aerial view of the massive destruction caused by armed gangs in the city of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, May 24, 2024. FILE PHOTO/Agence France-Presse

NAIROBI — Kenyan police will deploy to quell gang violence in Haiti probably within weeks, the east African country’s President William Ruto said on Sunday, despite court challenges that delayed the mission.

Kenya is aiming to lead a UN-backed mission to secure the Caribbean nation, stricken by violence, poverty and political instability.

The east African nation is scheduled to send 1,000 officers for the mission alongside personnel from several other countries.

READ: Haiti working on pact with Kenya to secure police deployment

“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 in an address during a visit to central Kenya on Sunday.

A UN Security Council resolution in October last year approved the mission but a Kenyan court in January delayed the deployment.

It said the government did not have the authority to send police officers abroad without a prior agreement.

The government secured that agreement on March 1 and Ruto told the BBC last month that he expected a Kenyan force to go to Haiti within weeks.

READ: What to know about UN vote to send Kenya-led force to Haiti to curb gang violence

But a small opposition party in Kenya filed a fresh lawsuit to try to block it. Kenya’s High Court is due to consider that case on June 12.

Aside from Kenya, other countries that have expressed willingness to join the mission include Benin, the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados and Chad.

Global monitor Human Rights Watch has raised rights concerns about the mission and doubts over its funding.

Rights groups have accused Kenyan police of using excessive force and carrying out unlawful killings.