Kenya's command staff delegation arrive in Haiti to assess preparedness exercise

Kenya's command staff delegation arrive in Haiti to assess preparedness exercise

Armed gang leader Jimmy "Barbecue" Cherizier and his men are seen in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, March 5,2024. (Photo by Clarens SIFFROY / AFP)

A delegation of Kenyan “command staff” has reportedly arrived in war-torn Haiti to assess the preparation exercise ahead of deploying a contingent of Kenyan troops.

A law enforcement source in the country intimated to CNN on Tuesday that the delegation is expected to scrutinize the equipment and facilities for other multinational police forces.

The assessment, according to the source, will determine the timelines for the deployment of the forces from foreign nations.

This comes fresh off a statement from Foreign Affairs Principal Secretay Korir Sing'oei noting that Kenya is finalizing the deployment of its officers.

Speaking on Sunday, Sing'oei noted that the UN-backed keeping mission is still on course and Kenya being the head of the multinational security force will see its officers off in the coming weeks.

A Haitian source had told AFP in early May that a first contingent of 200 Kenyan police, out of the pledged 1,000.

Kenya had announced in March that it was putting its deployment on hold until a transitional council was installed in Haiti after Haiti's then-prime minister Ariel Henry quit as the crisis grew even more violent.

The council was sworn in late last month and is due to lead the country until fresh polls, with an elected government to take over by February 6 next year.

Aside from Kenya, other countries who have voiced willingness to join the mission agreed under a UN resolution in October last year include Benin, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados and Chad.

The visit also comes amid qualms as President William Ruto is on a four-day visit to the United States where he is set to meet President Joe Biden.

It has been rumoured that Ruto might get down to the war-torn nation, claims PS Sing'oei vehemently refuted.

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Kenya Dominican Republic Citizen Digital Ariel Henry Haiti war

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