In July 2023, Kenya committed to deploy a contingent of 1,000 police officers to Haiti to help train and assist Haitian police to restore normalcy in the country.
Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua reiterated Kenya’s commitment to standing together with other countries to help them achieve peace and stability.
“Kenya stands with persons of African descent across the world, including those in the Caribbean, and aligns with the African Union’s diaspora policy and our own commitment to Pan Africanism, and in this case to “reclaiming of the Atlantic crossing,” he said.
However, lawyer Ndegwa Njiru on Wednesday, September 20, chastised the Kenya Kwanza government over the plans.
In a statement, Ndegwa said it was wrong for President William Ruto to cajole the whites.
He said the country already had a shortage of men in uniform and that donating the few we had in the Caribbean nation would further deteriorate the already poor state of security in the country.
“Ati we are donating our police officers to Haiti when our police ratio to citizen stands at 1:505 against the UN recommended ratio of 1:450….Ama lazima mtu ajipendekeze kwa wazungu?” Ndegwa said on X.
His comments come just a day after United States (US) President Joe Biden commended President William Ruto for his willingness to deploy Kenyan police to Haiti to help restore order in the gang-ridden Caribbean nation.
Speaking at the official opening of the 78th Session of the General Debate at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York, President Biden thanked Ruto for joining the Caribbean community in its quest for peace and willingness to alleviate the suffering of the Haitian people.
“The Caribbean community is facilitating dialogue within Haitian society. I thank President Ruto of Kenya for his willingness to serve as the lead nation of a UN-backed security support mission,” he said.
“I call on the Security Council to authorize this mission now. The people of Haiti cannot wait any longer,” President Biden added.
