Embakasi East Member of Parliament (MP) Paul Ongili alias Babu Owino has slammed President William Ruto for his decision to take Kenyan police officers to Haiti.
In an interview, Babu Owino said the decision is ill-timed because the officers are not prepared to handle the guns in Haiti.
In addition, the MP said President William Ruto is rushing to make decisions to please the western countries.
“There is no need of removing Africans from Kenya to go and fight other Africans in Haiti,” said Babu.
Babu on Haiti Terrain
Further, Babu said the police officers will have a tough time since they are not well conversant with the terrain in Haiti.
“You take Kenyans, they have not mastered the terrain in Haiti they will definitely be killed,” he said.
Babu on Language Barrier
Moreover, Babu explained that the officers will have a communication problem since they cannot speak the two dominant languages in Haiti.
“Haitians speak two languages, Haitian Creole and French. Not all Kenyan police officers even speak English, and you expect them to speak Haitian Creole and French as a language
At what point will they be interpreting the language and at what point are they going to handle the guns,” he said.
Haiti is a Sovereign Country
Additionally, the MP said Haiti has its sovereignty as a country adding that the president should not move to impress the whites.
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Also, Babu Owino questioned whether the families of the police officers have been assured to their security.
“This is not a joke, police officers should not think that if they can throw teargas canisters during demonstrations they can handle the situation in Haiti,” added Babu.
He emphasized that the families of the police should be assured of the compensation they will receive should the officers be killed in Haiti.
Further, Babu wondered how the Kenyan police will handle the situation in Haiti when they have failed to suppress the bandits in Kenya.
“I can tell you today, if we have not successfully managed the bandits in Kenya, where we know very well, how will we handle the gangs in Haiti who came as a result of assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021,” he posed.
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Kenya’s Pledge to Haiti
Kenyan security forces are expected to head to Haiti for a year starting January 2024, to combat gang violence that has killed thousands.
Kenya has pledged at least 1,000 police officers, and several other nations are expected to offer other resources.
Reports suggest gangs aligned with political parties have strengthened their grip on the country since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise.
No municipal, legislative or parliamentary elections have been held in years, creating a power vacuum.
