Kenya’s parliament on Thursday endorsed the planned deployment of its police force to spearhead a UN-supported multinational initiative in Haiti aimed at reinstating peace and security in the gang-affected Caribbean nation.
In early October, the UN Security Council granted approval for the mission led by Kenya to assist the overstretched Haitian police in combating widespread gang violence.
However, Kenya’s participation has faced criticism domestically, leading to the government being currently restricted from sending any police personnel to Haiti because of an ongoing legal challenge against its deployment plans.
“This House approves the deployment of the officers of the National Police Service to multinational security support mission to Haiti,” Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss Shollei told lawmakers on Thursday.
Despite the ongoing court case, the government has affirmed its readiness to offer up to 1,000 personnel and remains committed to the mission’s preparations.
The Nairobi High Court is currently reviewing a petition filed by opposition politician Ekuru Aukot, contending that the mission was unconstitutional due to lacking support from any law or treaty.
Haiti, considered the poorest nation in the Western hemisphere, has been grappling with turmoil for years. Armed gangs have seized control of regions, leading to severe violence, while the country’s economy and public health system remain severely damaged.