CS Kindiki shares updates on $600M Haiti Mission as PM Ariel Henry resigns
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has restated the dedication to dispatch 1,000 Kenyan police officers to Haiti, notwithstanding the recent escalation of violence in the Caribbean nation.
During a press conference on Monday, CS Kindiki emphasised that the deployment process is advancing seamlessly, with all requisite preparations currently in position.
“We are now in the pre-deployment stage. All the other programs are in place including the status of forces agreement and the laws on detention, arrests, and other enforcement measures are now in place. The standard operation procedures are in place,” CS Kindiki said.
The Cabinet Secretary also dismissed claims that several officers had withdrew from being deployed because to the increasing disarray.
“Kenya is the lead nation, but there are so many other countries that have pledged to contribute troops, and this came from the mandate of the United Nations Security Council, so it’s part of our international obligations.
“The court matter has been addressed, and that other rumour you are talking about, I think tell the source of that rumour to return it wherever it came from,” he added.
Recently, European Union nations and the United States of America discreetly transported their diplomats via helicopters during nighttime.
Haiti Prime Minister Ariel Henry tendered his resignation on Tuesday following the seizure of the capital by insurgents, which posed significant obstacles for his return to the country.
On Saturday, the United States reaffirmed its dedication to backing the global intervention in Haiti.
During a discussion with President William Ruto on Saturday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken expressed gratitude for Kenya’s initiative to take charge of the security team responsible for establishing the necessary conditions to ensure that elections are conducted freely and fairly.
Cost of Kenya’s mission to Haiti
In November 2023, CS Kindiki announced that the total money allocated for deploying troops to Haiti will amount to $600 million (equivalent to Sh90 billion).
He stated that this funding would enough for a single year, subject to a United Nations evaluation of the operation’s results.
“That involves money for preparing the forces, kitting them, them transporting them, sustaining them their logistics, communications, food, allowances and all that goes with that and also bringing them back home at the end of the mission,” CS Kindiki said.
He specified that the 1,000 cops will be transported to Haiti in groups and each stage will involve thorough pre-deployment preparation.
He stated that the resources for the mission will be mobilised from the member states of the United Nations.
“Unless all the resources are mobilised and availed our troops will not leave the country,” the Cabinet Secretary said.
While awaiting the necessary resources and Parliamentary clearance, the Ministry is now engaged in the process of identifying and undertaking the requisite procedures to prepare personnel from the National Police Services for the mission.
The Chief of Staff stated that Kenya anticipates receiving reimbursement for the expenses already being accrued in the preparation of the troops, amounting to approximately Sh241 million.
Kindiki reassured the committee that the deployment would not jeopardise domestic security.
“We have made arrangements to ensure that we do not disrupt any of the ongoing programs, especially with regard to sensitive security operations around complex criminal activities in our country and therefore our assurance is that we have taken great detail to make sure that we do not affect our internal security operations through these deployments and the inspector General of police and service commanders have assured the National Security Council that everything will go on as planned,” he said.
The Haiti operation will be supervised by senior police authorities, as stated by Police IG Japhet Koome.
The operation must consist of a central team and organised units.
Headquarters team
The headquarters team will have complete authority over the mission and will be led by an officer of at least the level of inspector general and assistant inspector general.
The personnel, staff, and logistics chiefs for the mission must be officers holding the level of commissioner of police.
The headquarters team will also include an intelligence division, investigators, and other support and technological teams.
Organised units
The assembled police forces will consist of five superintendents of police serving as heads, along with five commanders of comparable rank.
In addition, there will be support service officers, intelligence officers, operations officers, liaison officers, and duty officers starting from the rank of assistant superintendent of police.
The mission will consist of five platoon commanders, 25 chief inspectors and their deputies, 25 platoon sergeants and senior sergeants, 135 section leaders, and 655 constables.
In Other News: Kalonzo Breaks Silence On Creation Of Handshake Govt With Ruto
CS Kindiki shares updates on $600M Haiti Mission as PM Ariel Henry resigns
