On Saturday, January 18, Kenya deployed a contingent of 217 additional National Police Service (NPS) officers from special units to Haiti. However, attention was drawn to a small group of female officers who stood out within the batch.
The government has confirmed that in future deployments, Kenya aims to make history by sending an all-female-led security team to the Caribbean nation as part of its upcoming missions.
According to the Ministry of Interior, the government will also deploy officers from the General Service Unit (GSU) and the Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) alongside the female officers.
''As part of our unwavering commitment to the people of Haiti, Kenya will continue to deploy additional officers from various specialized units, including the General Service Unit (GSU), the Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU), and the all-female Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT), to reinforce security efforts and ensure sustained progress in restoring order,'' the Ministry of Interior shared in a statement.
The female SWAT team comprises women who have undergone rigorous training and are designed to handle high-risk situations that require specialised skills.
Additionally, the SWAT team is also trained to handle counter-terrorism operations, hostage rescues, and armed confrontations.
Locally the SWAT team was first deployed on the streets of Nairobi in 2012, where it elicited mixed reactions from Kenyans as it was the first of its kind.
The decision was made in response to escalating security threats, including terrorism and organized crime, according to information from the NPS.
Their deployment to Haiti is expected to mark a significant milestone in Kenya's international peacekeeping efforts, as the country aims to strengthen its reputation as a trusted and reliable global peacekeeping partner.
However, it was not immediately clear what operations the ASTU unit, which mainly deals with livestock theft, would be doing in the foreign nation.
The total number of police officers from Kenya deployed to Haiti stands at 617, with an initial 400 officers having been sent in June last year.
The Kenyan troops operating under the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission and Haitian National Police have in recent months intensified joint efforts to reduce crime and violence in Haiti.
The troops marked a milestone on October 2, last year when the Caribean nation was able to reopen schools and colleges.
In September last year, the United Nations (UN) Security Council unanimously voted to extend the authorisation of the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission to assist Haiti for one year.
The authorisation extends to member states who have already deployed troops to the MSS mission to Haiti to help re-establish security in the country and build conditions conducive to holding free and fair elections.
