Kindiki defends plan to deploy Kenyan police officers to Haiti

Police officers during a pass-out parade at Kenya Police College in Kiganjo, Nyeri County, on January 20, 2022. [Mose Sammy, Standard]

He added: "Kindiki said Kenyan officers working with colleagues from other countries to keep peace in Congo and Somalia had done a commendable job."

"The motion will soon be tabled in parliament for debate, and I ask our MPs to handle the matter soberly," he said, adding; "The National Security Council has already approved the request for deployment of our officers in Haiti," Kindiki said.

He said his ministry will adhere to the constitution and follow the procedure of deploying security officers in Haiti.

"The Security Council has already approved the request. We are asking the two houses of parliament to debate the matter patriotically and in the best interest of the country, and give us their blessings and those of the people they represent so we can send our officers to Haiti," the CS said.

He was flanked by MPs Mugambi Rindikiri (Buuri), Kirima Nguchine (Central), John Paul Mwirigi (Igembe South), and John Mutunga (Tigania West).

On October 3, President William Ruto said that the Kenya-led force would "not fail the people of Haiti", even as his deputy Rigathi Gachagua called on other nations to assist and ensure sufficient resources are available to make the Haiti mission a success.

Gachagua, who spoke on October 15, asked parliament to support the efforts to send the officers to Haiti, even as he promised that the government would follow the law in the deployment.

Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs Musalia Mudavadi and National Security Advisor Monica Juma are expected to travel to the Caribbean country for a second assessment mission.