In a bid to combat the escalating gang violence in Haiti, Kenya has announced plans to deploy around 1,000 police officers to the troubled Caribbean nation. Last year, Kenya had volunteered to lead a multinational security force in Haiti, but the plan was halted in January by the Kenyan High Court. However, in a recent visit to Kenya, Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry managed to salvage the agreement.
According to a UN envoy, gang violence in Haiti has reached a critical point, with nearly 5,000 deaths reported last year, more than double the number compared to 2022. In January alone, over 1,100 people were killed, injured, or kidnapped. To address this dire situation, Kenya, along with other nations, has stepped forward to provide support.
President William Ruto confirmed that he and Prime Minister Henry signed an agreement during the visit, where they also discussed the necessary steps to fast-track the deployment of Kenyan police officers to Haiti. In addition to Kenya’s commitment, the Bahamas has pledged to send 150 personnel, while Jamaica and the state of Antigua & Barbuda have expressed their willingness to assist. The United States has also promised £158m ($200m) to support the deployment. Benin has offered 2,000 troops earlier this week, further reinforcing the regional support for Haiti.
However, there are concerns among many Kenyans regarding the deployment, as they believe that security challenges at home should be prioritized. Opposition politician Ekuru Aukot, who initially filed the petition against the deployment, has expressed his intention to lodge a case for contempt of court. Critics argue that tackling security issues within Kenya should take precedence over involvement in external missions.
Haiti, known as the poorest nation in the Western hemisphere, has suffered significantly following the assassination of former President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. Since then, the country has experienced widespread civil and political unrest, coupled with a rise in gang violence. There has been no replacement for Moïse, and elections have not taken place since 2016.
Under a political deal reached after Moïse’s assassination, Haiti was supposed to hold elections, and the unelected Prime Minister Henry was expected to cede power by 7 February. However, this deadline was not met. As a result, the country is grappling with a multitude of challenges, including a crippled economy and a crumbling public health system.
In recent weeks, thousands of Haitians have taken to the streets demanding Prime Minister Henry’s resignation. His refusal to step down as scheduled has only heightened tensions. The situation worsened after he left the country for his visit to Kenya, with an increase in violence and a coordinated attack by armed groups aimed at ousting the prime minister.
Renowned gang leader Jimmy Chérizier, also known as ‘Barbecue,’ declared the joint efforts of armed groups from both provincial towns and the capital to remove Ariel Henry from power. Chérizier, a former police officer accused of multiple massacres in Port-au-Prince, expressed the frustration of the population, highlighting the country’s dire conditions and lack of leadership.
The recent wave of shootouts and public panic in Port-au-Prince has tragically resulted in the death of four police officers and the injury of five others. Reports indicate that the airport has been attacked, leading to flight cancellations by multiple airlines. Additionally, university students were briefly held hostage during the chaos, with one student sustaining gunshot wounds.
As the situation in Haiti continues to deteriorate, the international community is stepping up its efforts to support the nation. Kenya’s deployment of police officers, alongside the commitments from other countries, aims to provide immediate assistance in stabilizing the security situation. However, the ongoing debate within Kenya about focusing on domestic challenges underscores the complexity of external interventions in troubled regions.
In the coming weeks, it remains to be seen how the deployment of Kenyan police officers will unfold and what impact it will have on curbing gang violence in Haiti, a nation desperate for stability and peace.
