More Kenyan police officers have been sent to Haiti to help calm violence there. About 200 officers left Kenya recently to join others already in Haiti.
This mission is part of a larger effort by Kenya to send 1,000 officers to support peace efforts in the troubled Caribbean nation.
The deployment follows an initial group of 400 officers sent in June. President William Ruto initiated this move amid ongoing protests in Kenya.
The officers traveled to Haiti on a chartered plane, with plans for more deployments until the full contingent of 1,000 is reached.
Kenya is leading a mission that will eventually involve around 2,500 personnel, including contributions from other African and Caribbean countries.
Although blessed by the United Nations, the mission is not directly managed by them.
Earlier, there were rumors about seven officers being killed in Haiti, which were denied by Kenya’s National Police Service.
They reported that the deployed officers were received well and are working closely with the Haitian National Police.
Their tasks include mapping out areas of concern and conducting joint patrols in Port-au-Prince.
Initially delayed by a Kenyan court ruling that deemed the deployment unconstitutional, the mission was later approved by a UN Security Council resolution in October.
The Kenyan government secured a bilateral agreement with Haiti in March to proceed with the deployment, despite legal challenges from opposition parties in Kenya.
The United States, which provides funding and logistical support for the mission, has ruled out sending its own troops to Haiti.
Human Rights Watch has expressed concerns about the mission’s funding and Kenya’s police record, which includes accusations of excessive force and unlawful killings.
Haiti has faced persistent gang violence, exacerbated by coordinated attacks earlier this year that worsened conditions in Port-au-Prince.
The city is now largely controlled by gangs accused of serious crimes, impacting food security and access to humanitarian aid.
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