IG Koome: Our officers will deliver once they get to Haiti

By Moses Muli

Published: 18 2024, 11:35 AM(EAT)

Inspector General of Police Japheth Koome has expressed faith that Kenyan officers will bring peace to the gang-troubled Caribbean nation of Haiti once they are deployed there.

Koome said the 1,000 officers expected to go for a peace-keeping mission have the training to deliver their mandate in Haiti.

“As the Inspector General of Police, I would like to assure you that they have the capability, capacity, and training to succeed in this mission and that they will deliver when they get to Haiti,” Koome said.

The IG spoke on Wednesday during an interview with KTN.

Koome noted that Kenyan police officers have been deployed to other countries before.

“Our officers have served in several other peacekeeping missions, we have been to Namibia, Somalia, and Darfur among others,” he said.

This comes after President William Ruto on April 13 welcomed the formal Proclamation by Decree establishing the Presidential Transition Council (PTC) of Haiti.

He said the decision is evidence of the collective courage and singular sacrifice of the Haitian Council of Cabinet to forge a Haiti free of violence and to entrench a new democratic administration.

“I commend the leadership of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) for their steadfast stewardship of the intense consultations that led to the establishment of a Presidential Transitional Council that reflects the diverse sections of Haitian society,” he said.

The 1,000 officers to be deployed are teams from the Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU), Anti Stock Theft Unit (ASTU), General Service Unit (GSU) and Border Patrol Unit (BPU).

This is a combat-trained team that officials say can handle the situation on the ground professionally.

Ruto said Kenya is confident that the new political leadership will lay a strong foundation for resolution of the crisis in Haiti, restore security, afford the Haitian people a political transition and usher in sustainable peace and development.

“Kenya reiterates its strong solidarity with Haiti and stands ready to make its contribution within the framework elaborated in the UN Security Council Resolution 2699 of 2023,” he said.