The US is looking into Kenya to head a multinational force in Haiti. One thousand of these police officers may soon be sent to the Caribbean country to combat gang violence there.
However, the US is also explicitly warning Kenyan police forces against violent misconduct. Notably, it is a tough situation for Kenyan police, who have been accused of murdering and torturing people for a long time, especially during the COVID-19 curfew.
In July, amid opposition-called rallies against the growing cost of living, police fatally shot more than 30 individuals, according to a local organization.
Kenyan Police to Likely Take the Helm
Now, with the US serving as the United Nations Security Council president this month, preparations are being made for a resolution to allow a mission in Haiti to be commanded by Kenyan police.
According to AP News, the UN had been trying to get a country to take charge of restoring peace and stability in the Western Hemisphere's poorest nation for more than nine months.
Just recently, the foreign minister of Kenya, Alfred Mutua, declared that his country was interested in sending 1,000 police personnel to Haiti to train the Haitian National Police, restore normalcy, and secure critical assets. "Kenya stands with persons of African descent across the world."
It has been challenging to assemble foreign soldiers for Haiti, where deadly gang violence has surged since the death of President Jovenel Moise in 2021. Thus, on Tuesday, August 1, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken applauded Kenya for taking steps to serve.
The US, the European Union, and other partners have invested millions of dollars in training and assistance for Kenya's police force over the last several years, with the US's primary goal being "promoting police accountability and professionalism."
However, concern has been expressed by a number of groups that have been keeping tabs on reports of police corruption in Kenya.
Issue of Corruption in Police Force
Human Rights Watch's Kenya researcher, Otsieno Namwaya, told the AP News, "We had some consultations with Kenyan (civil society organizations) last week and there was general consensus that Kenya should not be seen to be exporting its abusive police to other parts of the world."
Some Kenyans believe the country's police force should remain at home in the face of a grave danger posed by Islamic extremists in neighboring Somalia, where they have been engaged for years and where soldiers have been stationed since last year to quell unrest. Sierra Leone is one of the countries that has previously benefited from UN peacekeepers.
Kenya contributes less than 450 people to UN peacekeeping operations, although other African countries like Rwanda, Ghana, and Egypt provide thousands. Only 32 of them are police officers. There are now 35 American service members serving in UN peacekeeping operations.
