Haiti Top Cops in Nairobi Ahead of Kenya Police Battle with Gangs

The Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) of Haiti paid a visit to Kenya ahead of deployment of Kenyan police officers to the Caribbean country.

In a statement on Friday, December 15, Kenya’s DCI stated that Frédéric Leconte led a delegation of top officials in a visit to DCI headquarters in Nairobi.

“Leconte engaged his Kenyan counterpart Mr Mohamed I. Amin on exchange programs that could see the investigators from both countries hold joint trainings aimed at sharing best practices,” read the statement.

Also, Leconte acknowledged the investigative capabilities of DCI Kenya.

He equally expressed his officer’s readiness to benchmark with the Kenyan team, noting that the country’s crime fighters had contributed pragmatically to regional safety especially in combating transnational organized crimes.

The guest also toured the DCI National Forensic Laboratory, thereafter, holding elaborate discussions with the Head of Forensics Dr. Mwangi Wanderi and other experts, on areas of partnership in the analysis of evidential material & crime scene support.

Leconte is part of the delegation that accompanied the Haitian Police Chief Frantz Elbe on a three-day official visit to Kenya for bilateral security discussions that ends today.

The Haitian Police Chief led the Haitian delegation was on a three-days official visit to Kenya for bilateral security discussions between the two law enforcement agencies.

Haiti Deployment Final Signal

After a heated debate on Thursday, November 16, Members of Parliament (MPs) voted to approve deployment of police officers in Haiti as part of the United Nations mission.

However, some members drawn from the minority side had voiced their reservations against the deployment and stated adamantly their opposition. 

The greenlight from parliament came despite the pending status of case filed in the High Court to stop the plans of sending troops to the Caribbean Island nation.

Also Read: If Kenya Wants to Help Haiti, It Should Push for Colonial Reparations Not Send in the Police

“Taking into consideration the recommendations of the joint committee, this House approves the deployment of officers of the National Police Service to the Multinational Security Support Mission to Haiti,” the speaker read the proposal before putting the question.

In his presentation, Leader of Majority in the National Assembly Kimani Ichung’wah passionately defended the plan stating that Kenyan police officers have in the past undertaken successful missions abroad. 

According to him, serving in Haiti would be a fulfillment of the patriotism in representing the nation in such a major international assignment. 

Also Read: Haiti Mission: MPs Approve Deployment of Kenyan Police

Azimio Concerns

However, the opposition led by Leader of Minority Opiyo Wandayi vehemently opposed the plans noting that it was akin to using police officers as “Guinea pigs”.

He further questioned the origin of the proposal to deploy Kenya’s police officers- pointing out that Haiti did not have a substantive government to make such a request.

Regarding the petition filed by Third Way Alliance party leader Ekuru Aukot, Deputy Speaker Gladys Shollei who presided over the session stated that the house did not receive the petition.

The deployment is expected to commence in early 2024, months after the United Nations Security Council approved the mission.