The National Police Service (NPS) has issued an update on the readiness for deployment of an additional 600 officers in the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) in Haiti.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja was present at the National Police College Embakasi ‘A’ Campus where the officers concluded their training programme.
Following the conclusion of the training, NPS announced that the 600 officers are now ready for deployment.
“The 600 NPS officers drawn from.GSU, Anti Stock Theft Unit, Rapid Deployment Unit and the all-female Special Weapons and Tactics Team are now ready for deployment in the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) aimed at restoring peace and stability in Haiti,” NPS statement read in part.
Kenya has already deployed the first batch of about 400 officers in Haiti and the additional 600 will push the number to 1,000.
In separate calls, Ruto discussed with the leaders areas of cooperation in making the mission successful.
The latest conversation comes against the backdrop of Kenya’s continued push for the Haiti mission to be converted to a full U.N. peacekeeping operation.
The agenda was among those presented on the table during the United Nations Security Council where the mission was extended for another 12 months.
“On the suggestion to transit this into a fully U.N. Peacekeeping mission, we have absolutely no problem with it, if that is the direction the U.N. security council wants to take,” Ruto said after visiting Port-au-Prince.
After the Security Council approved the mission, Ruto’s administration sent about 400 police officers to Port-au-Prince in June and July 2024 from an expected total of 1,000. A handful of other countries have together pledged at least 1,900 more troops.
However, the efficacy of the MSS mission has been criticized amid delays in deployments of manpower and vital equipment needed to fight powerful gangs.
