Kenyan police to tackle Haiti gang violence
Kenyan Police Officers Prepared for Deployment to Haiti: Addressing Escalating Gang Violence
Around 1,000 Kenyan police officers are poised to be sent to Haiti to address the escalating gang violence in the troubled Caribbean nation.
Despite Kenya volunteering to lead a multinational security force last year, the High Court intervened in January, halting the deployment due to concerns about the legal authority of such a mission.
Haiti’s Prime Minister visited Kenya recently to revive the plan.
A UN envoy previously highlighted the critical levels of gang violence in Haiti, with nearly 5,000 deaths reported last year, more than double compared to 2022. The situation worsened further in January alone, with over 1,100 people being victims of violence.
Following discussions between Kenyan President William Ruto and Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry, an agreement was signed to expedite the deployment of Kenyan officers.
The Bahamas, Jamaica, Antigua & Barbuda, along with support from the US, have also pledged resources towards this effort.
Despite support from various nations, some Kenyan citizens oppose the deployment, arguing that addressing security challenges domestically should take precedence.
Haiti has been grappling with heightened gang violence since the assassination of former president Jovenel Moïse in 2021, leading to political turmoil and instability.
A political agreement made post-assassination required Haiti to hold elections and for the unelected Prime Minister Henry to relinquish power by February 7th; however, this transition did not occur. Amid widespread civil unrest, Haiti’s economy and public services have suffered immensely, with large regions under the control of criminal gangs.
Recent events in Haiti have seen a surge in violence, including a targeted attack on Port-au-Prince by armed groups seeking the removal of the Prime Minister.
The unrest has resulted in casualties, including police officers, disruptions to air travel, and incidents of hostage-taking. The situation remains volatile as efforts are made to address the deep-rooted challenges facing the nation.