Nairobi, Kenya – Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has sought to address concerns surrounding the deployment of 1,000 Kenyan police officers to Haiti. In a recent interview, Mudavadi, who also oversees Foreign Affairs, emphasized that the mission will be conducted within a well-established United Nations security framework.
Concerns have been raised about the Kenyan force’s preparedness for the gang violence plaguing Haiti. Mudavadi assured the public that the UN framework provides detailed guidelines for deployment, ensuring the safety of the officers. He stressed that the mission is one of “security support,” not direct engagement with Haitian gangs.
“The officers will operate under clear rules and guidelines established by the UN deployment regulations,” Mudavadi stated. “Their conduct will be governed by these principles, not left to chance.”
He further clarified, “This is not a combat mission. While unforeseen situations may arise, responses will strictly adhere to UN guidelines.”
Mudavadi expressed confidence in the Kenyan troops, citing their experience in global deployments like Namibia, Kosovo, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“The deployment will be strategic,” he said. “We have well-trained personnel with experience working alongside other nations in various missions.”
Mudavadi also highlighted that the UN framework addresses healthcare concerns for the troops, considering the state of Haiti’s healthcare system.
“This is a negotiated mission with a pre-determined framework,” he explained. “The framework ensures the deployment meets the expectations of the Haitian people and the UN. Every detail, including emergency situations, has been carefully considered. These are trained security professionals, not going in unprepared.”
