New details have emerged about the Kenyan delegation's trip to New York in the US before embarking on a fact-finding mission in Haiti on Sunday.
International media outlets on Tuesday reported that the delegation, headed by Deputy Inspector General Noor Gabow, touched down in New York to consult and engage other countries seeking to form part of the mission.
The meeting was aimed at exploring the best ways to tackle the crisis afflicting the Caribbean country, where gangs have seized control of more than 80 per cent.
According to the Associated Press, the demands fronted by Haiti were discussed with a key focus on curbing the situation, which is paralyzing the country's operations and endangering the future of its citizens.
It was, however, unclear when the team arrived in New York or the duration of their stay.
The Gabow-led team then departed to Haiti on Sunday to meet with top law enforcement officers in the country.
The meeting, which took place on Monday, centred around the needs of the battered Haitian Law Enforcement department.
“We are here to assess the needs of the National Police of Haiti, better understand the situation and do our best to help the Haitian people,” read a joint statement from the Haiti Force and the 10-member Kenyan delegation.
Kenya's fact-finding mission in Haiti is slated to end on Wednesday, August 23.
Tall Order
If approved, Kenya is ready to deploy over 1,000 officers to Haiti to lead the foreign mission. However, it has the backing of the United Nations (UN) and other key security players globally.
The team will then integrate with Haiti's 10,000 officers to restore order in the country with 11 million citizens.
Nonetheless, the gangs threatened to fight back should the deployed officers commit human rights abuses during their mission.
“We will fight against them until our last breath. It will be a fight of the Haitian people to save the dignity of our country," Jimmy Barbecue” Cherizier, the leader of the G9 Family and Allies gang alliance, stated, according to Al Jazeera.
So far, the gang has held hostage the country's capital city of Port Au Prince and expanded its outskirt towns, including the influential suburbs where the wealthy live. It is estimated that over 2,400 people have been killed and 200,000 displaced since January 2023.
