President William Ruto (center), alongside Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua (left) and Nakuru County Governor Susan Kihika, graced the Akorino National Thanksgiving Prayer Conference held in Nakuru County on June 9, 2024. IMAGE | PCS
In Summary:
- President William Ruto has announced that the deployment of Kenyan police officers to Haiti will take place within the next two weeks.
- The move is aimed at honoring Kenya’s commitment to restoring peace in the Caribbean nation, which has been facing political and security challenges.
- The deployment, initially planned to involve 1,000 Kenyan police officers and 2,500 from other nations, was temporarily halted to finalize pre-deployment arrangements.
In a statement made during a church service in Nakuru on Sunday, Kenyan President William Ruto provided an update on the country’s anticipated contribution to the peacekeeping efforts in Haiti.
Ruto affirmed that the deployment of Kenyan police officers to the Caribbean nation would occur within the next two weeks, solidifying Kenya’s commitment to restoring stability in the region.
“We have a very blessed nation that is being depended on by foreign nations as well,” Ruto stated, highlighting Kenya’s role in assisting countries like Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“For those in Haiti, maybe this coming week or next week, we will deploy our Police to maintain peace.”
Initially, the deployment was set to involve 1,000 Kenyan police officers and 2,500 personnel from other nations. However, the process was temporarily halted to allow for the finalization of pre-deployment arrangements.
According to earlier reports, the initial deployment was planned to include 500 Kenyan police officers, 400 security professionals, and 100 support staff, such as medics, with subsequent groups arriving at a later date.
Meanwhile, Haiti has faced a fresh challenge as its recently installed Prime Minister, Garry Conille, was hospitalized following an asthma attack on Saturday afternoon.
Conille, who assumed the position in an acting capacity, felt unwell and was taken to the hospital for treatment, according to a statement from the Haitian government.
Various Caribbean media outlets have reported that the Prime Minister was subsequently flown out of the country for specialized treatment.
The deployment of Kenyan police officers to Haiti comes amid ongoing efforts to address the political and security challenges faced by the Caribbean nation.
As President Ruto emphasized, Kenya remains committed to contributing to the restoration of peace and stability in the region.