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A security team led by the Haitian police chief Frantz Elbe is in Kenya for a three-day visit ahead of deployment of Kenya police to help fight gang violence in the Caribbean country.

The visit comes just a week after the Kenyan delegation also visited Haiti as part of the preparations for the upcoming arrival of the controversial Multinational Mission to Support Security the United Nations approved on October 2.

Elbe, the Director General of the Haitian National Police and his delegation met the Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome and other senior security officials including the Administration Police boss Noor Gabow for bilateral security discussions.

The Haitian team is expected to leave today after a series of discussions said to be part of the preparation for the deployment of the more than 1,000 police officers from Kenya.

The first contingent of about 300 officers is scheduled for deployment by February, according to the AP boss Gabow.

The officers will be drawn from specialized units within the General Service Unit (GSU) and the Administration Police Service. They include the AP’s Special Operations Group, the Rapid Deployment Unit, the Special Recce Team, the Special Weapons and Tactics team.

These officers have paramilitary training. Kenya will take the command and operations of about 3,000 personnel.

A month after the 15-members of the UN Council approved what is known as a Chapter VII provision of the UN Charter that authorises the use of force after all other measures to maintain international peace and security are exhausted, the Kenyan Parliament last month approved the deployment.

However, a high court extended orders barring the move, pending the outcome of a legal challenge to the plan.

Raila opposed

High Court Judge Chacha Mwita had directed that the deployment of officers to Haiti will be determined on January 26, 2024.

The plan has faced widespread criticism, mainly due to a poor record of previous interventions in Haiti and a record of rights abuses by Kenyan police.

Azimio leader Raila Odinga is among leaders who have opposed the proposed deployment. President Ruto has however defended the plan saying it will contribute to the freedom and security of Haiti.
Last week, the second Kenyan delegation had an important working meeting on December 5 with Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry.

Accompanied by representatives of the American administration, it also met members of the High Council of the Transition (HCT) – Mirlande Hyppolite Manigat, Calix Fleuridor and Laurent St Cyr.

The Kenyans also had a long working session with the high command of the Haitian National Police.

“On the other hand, a high-level delegation from the Ministry of Justice and Public Security and the NPH will travel to Nairobi in the coming days in preparation for the arrival of this Mission,” the PM’s office said in a statement.

Leading the team from Kenya was national security advisor Monica Juma, DIG Gabow and those from other government departments. Plans are that Kenya will, among others, open a consular in Haiti.

In the first trip, a dozen senior police officers toured Toussaint Louverture International Airport and neighbouring sites in Port-au-Prince Haiti, in August for an assessment study.

The first months of 2023 observed a steady increase in major crime trends and gang related incidents. The force will not operate under a UN flag, but it is sponsored by the United States.

It is expected to assist Haiti’s understaffed and under-resourced police department, with only about 10,000 officers for the nation’s more than 11 million people. As a result, it is unable to fully contain the outbreak of violence and needs international support.

The insecurity in Haiti escalated after the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise.

Following the death of Moise, Prime Minister Ariel Henry took over but some of the gang leaders see him as an illegitimate leader supported by US and other Western governments, to advance their interests.

The US has pledged Sh14.5 billion (USD100 million) for the mission, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken saying the Joe Biden administration was keen on ensuring that the mission is successful.