Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome has displayed his unwavering faith in Kenya’s participation in the Haiti peacekeeping mission, which will involve the deployment of 1,000 Kenyan police officers.
In a meeting held on a Friday, Inspector General Koome, in the company of Head of Public Service Felix Koskei at the Kenya School of Government, exuded confidence in the capabilities of the dispatched officers. He emphasized their potential to successfully fulfill their mission and restore order to the violence-ridden Caribbean nation.
Koome underscored Kenya’s impeccable track record in international peacekeeping endeavors, citing previous successful missions in Somalia, South Sudan, and the recent deployment to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). He firmly believed that the Kenyan police force would likewise excel in their duties in Haiti.
Felix Koskei echoed Inspector General Koome’s sentiments, describing the decision as one that would position the National Police Service (NPS) as a prominent representative of the humanitarian mission.
The news of Kenya’s involvement in the mission raised concerns among Kenyan citizens following the announcement made by Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Dr. Alfred Mutua. Many voiced apprehension about the perilous conditions in Haiti, which they deemed necessitated international intervention.
President William Ruto, who oversaw the agreement’s signing earlier in the month between Haitian Minister Jean Victor Génus and Cabinet Secretary Mutua, endorsed the move. He viewed it as an opportunity for cooperation in areas of shared interest.
The deployment occurs in the backdrop of a warning from the United Nations chief, who expressed grave concerns about the deteriorating situation in gang-infested Haiti.
Haiti is increasingly spiraling into chaos and violence, with brutal gangs tightening their grip on the nation. The streets are plagued by random sniper attacks from rooftops, and victims often suffer horrifying fates, including being burned alive. In response to this escalating violence, vigilante groups have adopted more ruthless measures.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres released a report on Wednesday highlighting the intensification of gang-related violence, with gangs expanding their control not only in the capital, Port-au-Prince, but also beyond its borders. Guterres also noted the grim prevalence of sexual violence, including gang rape, as a means of terrorizing populations under the control of rival gangs.
