Kenya, Haiti sign security deal for deployment of 1,000 police officers

Kenya and Haiti inked a security deal Friday, clearing the way for the deployment of 1,000 Kenyan police officers to the violence-plagued Caribbean country

President William Ruto of Kenya expressed that after months of delays, the agreement would facilitate the swift implementation of the security mission.

This mission has sparked cautious optimism in Haiti, amidst escalating violence, but has faced criticism from Kenyan rights organizations.

The mission, supported by the United Nations and primarily funded by the United States, had been suspended since January following a Kenyan court ruling that deemed the deployment illegal because of the absence of a formal reciprocal agreement between Kenya and Haiti.

Prime Minister Ariel Henry of Haiti flew to Kenya on Thursday to finalize the agreement, even as violent gangs wreaked havoc in Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital, demanding his removal from office.

Despite Kenya’s security challenges and its police force’s questionable human rights record, President Ruto emphasized Kenya had a “historic duty” to move forward with the deployment, highlighting that “peace in Haiti is beneficial for the global community.”

On Thursday, armed gangs in Port-au-Prince launched coordinated attacks aimed at overthrowing the government while Prime Minister Henry was on his trip to Africa.

Source: Newsroom