Nandi County Senator Samson Cherargei has said that Haiti will become a country of prosperity after Kenya intervenes to restore security.

1,000 Kenyan police officers will head to the Caribbean country in an effort to curb persistent insecurity after the move received a United Nations Security Council nod.

UN nod

On Monday, October 2, 2023, in New York, the UN’s top organ, with a recorded vote of 13 in favour and 2 abstentions from Russia and China, voted to approve the security mission to the island.

The council also authorized the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission to help secure critical infrastructure and transit hubs such as airports, ports, schools, hospitals, and key intersections.

Cherargei, an outspoken defender of the Kenya Kwanza government, has said the security mission is going to achieve its core mandate of restoring security.

“The UN Security Council’s approval for Kenya to lead the restoration of peace and security in Haiti is a signature of our country’s role in the global community.

“Our police deployment to Haiti is not ordinary police but special forces/paramilitary police to handle the Haitian criminal gangs. In the next one year, Haiti shall be a country of prosperity flowing with honey and milk courtesy of the Kenya peace process,” Cherargei said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter.

Criticism, support

Although the move has been criticized by some quarters, it has received backing from some, with Martin Kimani, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Kenya in the UN, being one of those supporting the initiative.

“With this action, the Security Council has ignited a beacon of hope for the beleaguered people of Haiti,” Kimani said after the mission received the UN Security Council nod.

Meanwhile, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) said they were not consulted before the move was initiated.

“Though the National Police Service Act allows the Inspector General to partner regionally or internationally with other services in matters of policing. How this is regulated once they leave the country for an international mission is out of the IPOA’s jurisdiction.

“Our scope is territorial; we are only able to deal with our officers while within our territorial space and under the command of the Inspector General,” the agency said when it appeared before the National Dialogue Committee recently.