Despite legal difficulties that caused a delay in the mission, Kenyan police will likely deploy within weeks to combat gang violence in Haiti, according to President William Ruto on Sunday.
Kenya hopes to take the lead in a UN-backed operation to stabilize the violent, impoverished, and politically unstable Caribbean nation.
One thousand officers from the East African nation will join personnel from seven other nations on the operation.
The expedition was given approval by a UN Security Council resolution in October of last year, but its deployment was postponed by a Kenyan court in January.
It stated that without previous consent, the government lacked the ability to send police officers overseas.
That agreement was reached on March 1st by the government, and Ruto stated to the BBC last month that he anticipated sending a Kenyan force to Haiti in a matter of weeks.
However, in an attempt to thwart it, a small opposition group in Kenya filed a new case. On June 12, Kenya’s High Court is scheduled to hear that case.
Apart from Kenya, Benin, the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, and Chad have also shown an interest in participating in the mission.
Human Rights Watch, a global monitor, has expressed concerns about the objectives and financing sources.
Human rights organizations have alleged that Kenyan police committed unlawful killings and use excessive force.
