Prior to their deployment to Haiti to tackle gang violence, Kenyan President William Ruto on Monday ceremoniously presented the first 400 police personnel.
President Ruto handed the Kenyan flag to the officers who would be part of the Multinational Security support operation in Haiti during a ceremony held in the capital city of Nairobi Monday evening.
“This mission is one of the most urgent, important and historic in the history of global solidarity,” Ruto told the officers in quotes shared by his office.
“Kenya has solid credentials in peace-making and conflict resolution globally. Our police officers’ presence in Haiti will give relief to the men, women and children whose lives have been broken by gang violence,” President Ruto told the officers
“We will work with the international community to bring lasting stability in Haiti.”
On October 2, 2023, the UN Security Council sanctioned this operation under Resolution 2699.
The US refused to send its forces to Haiti, but Ruto the puppet agreed to sacrifice our people to Haitian gangs 💔 pic.twitter.com/5DL1SFVgip
— gids (@gidikariuki) June 24, 2024
Senior Assistant Inspector General of Police Godfrey Otunge was named by Kenyan Inspector General of Police Japheth Koome as the new leader of the over 2,500 police officers taking part in the Haiti mission.
In anticipation of the arrival of the main group, an advance team has already left for Haiti.
Kenya and the Haitian government last week came to an agreement on ground conditions for the security forces, who could encounter strong resistance from the armed gangs that have overrun local law enforcement and taken over the capital.
To combat the gang violence in Haiti, more than a thousand police officers from Kenya will work with other international teams.
Further to Kenya, Haiti will receive officers from Chile, Jamaica, Grenada, Paraguay, Burundi, Chad, Nigeria, and Mauritius.
The officers were ceremoniously said goodbye by President William Ruto, who is a strong supporter of the operation, on Monday, just hours before the deployment took place.
The tape released by the presidency shows that Ruto prayed for the policemen and gave them a Kenyan national flag during a ceremony in Nairobi to which the media was not allowed.
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