A second contingent of Kenyan police officers departed Nairobi for Haiti to bolster efforts against rampant gang violence that has plagued the Caribbean nation.
On the night of July 15, a team of 200 highly-trained officers boarded a UN-chartered flight, set to land in Port-au-Prince at 10 a.m. Kenyan time the following day.
The departure was overseen by outgoing Deputy Inspector General of the Administration Police, Noor Gabow, who is also the coordinator of the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) in Haiti, alongside acting DIG James Kamau.
The MSS, sanctioned by the United Nations Security Council on October 2, 2023, was established to support Haiti's government in restoring law and order amidst escalating civil strife and gang activities since 2018.
Gabow, addressing the officers, emphasized the significance of their mission and urged them to uphold Kenya's reputation.
"I know you are ready for the mission. Go and help the Haitians stand up and take off. They are good people," he remarked.
This newly deployed team will join an advance unit that arrived in Haiti on June 25 and has since conducted reconnaissance missions.
Their duties will include securing critical infrastructures such as hospitals, airports, ports, the presidential palace, and national highways.
In recent weeks, the advance team has made significant strides, notably aiding Haitian police in reclaiming a national hospital that had fallen under gang control.
This deployment marks a critical step in an international effort to stabilize Haiti and support its citizens in reclaiming their country from the grips of violent gangs.
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