Kenyan President William Ruto is currently on a visit to the United States, where he is expected to hold talks with US President Joe Biden to deepen economic and security cooperation between the two countries. One of the key agendas of the visit is the launch of a long-stalled police deployment to Haiti, as part of a United Nations-backed initiative to restore security in the Caribbean country. The deployment of the Kenya-led police force, which is expected to number about 2,500 members with 1,000 Kenyan police officers, has been delayed due to a recent wave of deadly attacks by Haitian armed groups in Port-au-Prince. However, Kenyan officials have stated that the deployment is imminent as preparations are being finalised.
There are some outstanding questions regarding the Haiti mission, with concerns raised over financial support and the flow of arms into Haiti. Kenya is demanding greater support from the US to rally financial resources for the UN basket fund that will cover the mission’s costs. Additionally, Kenya is seeking US commitment to stem the flow of arms into Haiti, including from US ports in Florida. There has also been opposition to the Haiti mission among Kenyans, who were not consulted publicly about the decision to lead the mission, according to non-resident fellow Samar al-Bulushi. Martin Mavenjina from the Kenya Human Rights Commission has highlighted concerns about the history of human rights violations by the Kenyan police force that should be addressed before any deployment.
The recent wave of deadly violence in Haiti, including attacks on police stations and state institutions, has led to widespread concern and unrest in the country. This has resulted in the unelected Prime Minister Ariel Henry stepping down, with an interim presidential council appointed to lead the country. About 362,000 people, half of whom are children, have been internally displaced due to the violence, according to UN figures. While there have been concerns about past foreign interventions in Haiti, many Haitian civil society leaders and citizens believe that the country needs help to restore security. Former US special envoy to Haiti, Daniel Foote, has highlighted the need for security intervention in Haiti, given the deteriorating situation and weakened state institutions.
There is uncertainty surrounding the Kenya-led mission in Haiti, particularly in terms of who the mission would be working for, given the lack of a functioning government in Haiti. There are also doubts about whether a 1,000-officer force would be sufficient to restore security and control the streets in Haiti. Despite these challenges, there is a pressing need for intervention to ensure the delivery of crucial goods and services to the people, especially in hospitals. The deployment of the police force is seen as a crucial step towards restoring security and stability in Haiti, but there are concerns that need to be addressed to ensure the success and effectiveness of the mission.
