Kenya’s President William Ruto has expressed his approval of the United Nations Security Council’s decision to authorize a Kenya-led police mission to Haiti. President Ruto pledged that they would not fail the people of Haiti, emphasizing the special significance and critical urgency of the mission for Kenya.
The UN resolution, adopted on Monday, grants authorization for the mission to assist the Haitian police in addressing the challenges posed by gangs that have seized control of significant parts of the country, causing terror among residents and resulting in numerous fatalities.
President Ruto characterized the situation in Haiti as a matter of “humanitarian consideration” necessitating collective action. He stressed the importance of being a true and loyal friend to the people of Haiti during their time of need.
However, there have been critics of the mission, with some expressing concerns about the ability of Kenyan police to confront Haiti’s gangs. Former Kenyan chief justice Willy Mutunga raised concerns about the mission’s constitutionality and the need for consultation with the Kenyan people on such an important matter.
Amnesty International has also called for a thorough examination of the mission’s human rights and humanitarian implications before deployment. The deployment of Kenyan police to Haiti remains a subject of debate and scrutiny.