Kenyan President William Ruto announced on Friday that Kenya and Haiti have signed a reciprocal agreement allowing the deployment of Kenyan police to lead a United Nations-backed mission to restore law and order in Haiti, which has been grappling with gang-related violence. The agreement comes amidst deadly gang violence in the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, prompting concerns over the country’s stability.
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Kenya had previously offered to deploy up to 1,000 personnel, a proposal supported by the United States and other nations reluctant to deploy their own forces.
However, a Nairobi court had declared the decision unconstitutional due to the absence of a reciprocal agreement between the two countries. President Ruto emphasized Kenya’s commitment to the multinational mission, emphasizing the importance of peace in Haiti for global stability.
The UN Security Council had approved the mission in October, but concerns in Kenya led to a court challenge. Opposition politician Ekuru Aukot, who had filed the petition against the deployment, expressed intentions to challenge the validity of the agreement, citing concerns of secrecy and contempt of court.
Haiti has been grappling with armed gangs and political instability for years, with recent violence aimed at removing Prime Minister Henry. The country is currently without elected officials, with Henry serving as prime minister under international support following the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July 2021.
