NAIROBI, Kenya Mar 1 – Kenya has formalised the planned deployment of 1,000 police officers to Haiti by signing an agreement.
The agreement was signed in Nairobi on Friday afternoon by security ministers from the two countries in the presence of President William Ruto and Haiti Prime Minister Ariel Henry.
The High Court in January ruled that under Kenyan laws, the government can only deploy police officers to another country if a reciprocal agreement exists with the host nation.
But President Ruto later announced that his government will adhere to the court order, and appeal as it works to put in place the reciprocal agreement.
“I am pleased to inform you that Prime Minister Ariel Henri and I have witnessed the signing of this instrument. We have also discussed the next steps to enable the fast-tracking of the deployment,” Ruto said Friday after witnessing the agreement signing at State House.
The UN Security Council backed Kenya’s offer to lead the force and Kenyan lawmakers went on to approve the deployment.
In Haiti, the possible deployment had received mixed reactions from community members who have suffered at the hands of gangs.
