Nairobi’s decision to send 1,000 police personnel to assist the crisis-ridden country of Haiti is motivated by strong reasons, as both the United States and Kenya are eager to contribute to a security operation there.
Several African countries, including Kenya, have offered to send troops to Haiti in order to address the increasing gang violence that is afflicting the Caribbean country.
Nairobi is preparing to spearhead a UN-approved effort and is sending 1,000 police personnel to help bring peace to the violent nation.
Kenya has chosen to postpone its deployment, though, as Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry has indicated that he intends to resign until a transitional council is established.
However, Kenyan President William Ruto reaffirmed last week that his country will honor its commitment by dispatching troops to Haiti following the establishment of the transitional council.
Kenya’s position and the pressure Washington put on Nairobi to send its officers have raised questions about why the African country first offered to head the mission.
Journalist and political analyst Abuga Makori told TRT World, “In the spirit of stability, integration, and prosperity, Kenya just wants to be counted as a nation which stood with Haiti when it was needy.”
Nairobi-based Makori pointed out that this is not the first operation of its kind for Kenya, considering the several prior missions the nation has participated in. Kenya “has consistently backed regional, continental, and global peacekeeping missions.”
“If the Haiti mission is to stand, it will not be the first. Previously, we had Democratic Republic of the Congo [recently], Mozambique, Namibia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Sudan [Darfur], and Somalia [ongoing],” Makori continued.
“This is in line with its policy to support peace, stability, and prosperity among nations.”
SOURCE: TRTWORLD
