The United States and Kenya recently signed a defense agreement that will see 1,000 Kenyan police deployed to Haiti to respond to months of escalating gang violence.
While the United Nations had welcomed the move, a section of Kenyans have in the recent past taken to social media to question the preparedness of Kenya police in quelling the deadly gangs in the Caribbean country.
However, Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has defended the country’s move to deploy Kenya Police officers to restore normalcy in the gang-ridden country.
Cherargei, in a statement on Thursday, September 28, said he had hope in the officers and that they would effectively weed out gangs in the Caribbean country.
He said the officers would deal ruthlessly with gangs the way they dealt with protestors during the anti-government protests called by Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party leader Raila Odinga.
The lawmaker said the men in blue uniforms dealt with protestors until the whole world noticed their effectiveness in handling lawlessness.
“On Kenya’s peace mission in Haiti is welcomed. The Kenya Police can easily handle Haiti criminal gangs because they vanquished the Azimio-OKA illegal protests/maandamano thoroughly until the entire world noticed their effectiveness and efficiency in handling lawlessness,
“Congratulations to Kenya Police service as you serve our Haitian brothers and our Prayers go with you. Utumishi kwa WOTE!” he said.
His remarks come just a day after Foreign Affairs CS Alfred Mutua dismissed critics who were questioning the preparedness of the Kenyan force in quelling the deadly gangs in Haiti.
“Those opposing the deal have a right to be skeptical because it has been tried before. I mean, other missions have been deployed before. But remember those were United Nations peace missions. This is a different mission,” he added.
