Haitians have called on the Kenyan contingent who were recently deployed in the Caribbean nation for a peacekeeping mission to start hunting down gangs.
According to the Washington Post, frustration was fast growing among citizens of Haiti who decried delays by the peacekeepers in curbing the escalating gang violence.
Haitians who spoke to the US-based news outlet said that if the mission did not start conducting operations soon that led to victories against the gangs, they would start to frown upon its presence.
“Nothing has changed in my life, and I lack increased confidence in my security. I don’t understand why the Kenyans are here,” said one Haitian who spoke to the Washington Post.
“I don’t feel the effect of the Kenyans’ presence,” he added.
Meanwhile, a Kenyan police officer who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed the force was still waiting for more equipment to arrive before kicking off the operations.
“We’re ready. We have more training than the gangs. We can kick them out. We’re going to attack the gangs where they are hidden,” claimed the Kenyan officer.
Haitian police officers, on the contrary, raised concern over the mission with several of them saying they remain confused about how the peace-keeping mission would work since the Kenyan officers were not directly involved in fighting the gangs.
The officers, who spoke on condition of anonymity, claimed the Kenyan officers were better armed and received a much higher salary further alleging how the Haitians were expected to shoulder most of the risk.
“We are going to be at the forefront, but with what weapons?” one Haitian police officer revealed.
“The Kenyans shouldn’t be patrolling the streets,” said another. “They should be attacking the gangs. They have the resources we lack, including firepower.”
The call for urgent action against the gangs comes against the backdrop of dreaded gang leader Jimmy Cherizier, alias Barbecue's call for a national dialogue.
Barbecue while addressing the press on July 5, told interim Prime Minister Garry Conille that he was ready to lay down his arms to initiate a national dialogue to restore peace.
“We have decided to publicly announce that our strategy of laying down arms to facilitate national dialogue and promote peace is already written in black and white on our agenda,” said Barbecue.
