The United Nations Security Council (UN SC) on Monday, October 2, approved Kenya’s quest to deploy 1,000 police officers in Haiti.
In a voting exercise that took place in New York, the UN body sanctioned the plan to pave way for further arrangements.
13 members of the council voted to approve the proposed multinational police operation while two members abstained.
According to the United Nations, Russia and China abstained with ambassadors in New York also supporting the intervention.
In a statement, the UNSC urged Kenya and other countries participating in the operation to maintain high standards of professionalism and transparency.
On his part, Haiti’s Foreign Minister Victor Geneus welcomed the approval noting that it was more than a simple vote.
Also, among leaders who reacted to the decision was US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.
In a statement, Blinken applauded the Council for the approval.
“We applaud the UN Security Council’s authorization of a Multinational Security Support mission to Haiti – a pivotal step in providing the international support Haiti requested to restore security. We thank Kenya and Ecuador for their strong partnership in this effort,” he stated.
Historic moment beckons
In what is bound to become a historic move, Kenya will become the first African nation to ever lead a UN-mission abroad.
Kenya had declared its intention to lead a United Nations mission in the Caribbean Island nation in efforts to restore order after a prolonged struggle with organized gangs.
According to Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua, the deployment could start within a few months although projections indicate the start of 2024 as the tentative commence time.
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The commitment to help Haiti attracted praise from world leaders including US President Joe Biden.
During the United Nations summit held in September, the US government committed to channeling Ksh14 billion towards Kenya’s preparedness efforts for the mission.
In addition, several countries including Jamaica have offered to join in the mission to fight gangs terrorizing the nation’s citizens.
United Nations heeds Haiti Call
For months now, gangs have disrupted normal life in Haiti with children and women being the most affected.
Over 3,000 cases of homicides have been reported since January, according to the UN, and life activities disrupted owing to the gangs’ activities.
Consequently, Haiti’s government appealed to the international community to intervene.
“In the name of the women and girls raped every day, the thousands of families driven from their homes, the children and young people of Haiti, who have been denied the right to education, in the name of all people who are victims of the barbarity of gangs, I urge the international community to act quickly,” Haiti’s Prime Minister appealed in his address at the UN General Assembly.
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The contingent of Kenya Police officers is expected to train their Haiti counterparts and help to guard key installations.
In his public utterances, Inspector General of the Police Japhet Koome expressed his confidence that the officers are up to the task.
“We have patriotic and committed officers who love their country. They are well trained and recognized worldwide.
“We went to Namibia and did very well, went to Yugoslavia and our performance was exemplary. We have been to Siera Leone, and East Timor and again we did very well. We are all over the World,” explained Koome.
Haiti Mission Jitters
However, the decision to volunteer police officers has been met with jitters from some quarters.
In what became a nationwide conversation, a section of Kenyans questioned Kenya’s capacity to face the notorious gangs in a foreign country.
Additionally, Amnesty International wrote a protest letter to the United Nations informing them to consider cases of human rights violation and corruption associated with Kenya Police in the past.
