Kenya’s decision to deploy police officers to participate in a peacekeeping mission in Haiti will not undermine the nation’s security, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki said during a fundraising event at Kunene Day Secondary School in Meru County.
CS Kindiki stressed that Kenya has a sufficient number of police officers and what is required is an enhancement in the deployment strategies and the amalgamation of skills from different specialized units.
“Even if some of these officers are young, we are prepared to send them to Haiti, allowing them to acquire international knowledge and skills. This should not be interpreted as them being incapable of fulfilling our country’s security needs as stipulated by the law,” he stated.
Furthermore, the CS stated, “I have complete confidence in the skills and competencies of our police officers, which is why the United Nations has invited Kenya to contribute additional officers who will join those from member countries to form a peacekeeping troop in Haiti.”
Prof. Kindiki clarified that this is not a novel undertaking for Kenya, emphasizing that the country has previously dispatched troops to regions such as Namibia, Eastmoor, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Croatia, Cambodia, and various other nations.
Currently, he added, Kenyan officers are collaborating with their international counterparts to maintain peace in Congo and Somalia.
“We engage in these missions because when other countries are in turmoil, our nation will indirectly encounter similar challenges, as we are all interconnected as part of a shared humanity,” Prof. Kindiki explained.
The CS also noted that the National Security Council has already granted approval for the deployment of 1,000 police officers to Haiti, and the proposal will be presented in Parliament for a comprehensive debate.
“We will adhere to our country’s constitutional procedures regarding the deployment of our officers in Haiti. The Security Council has already finalized its decision on the matter, and we are urging Parliament to deliberate on this issue rationally, patriotically, and in the best interest of our nation. We seek their endorsement so that our officers can embark on this mission with the full support of the people and the Kenyan government,” concluded Prof. Kindiki.
