Kenya’s Foreign Minister, Alfred Mutua has said that, Kenya is ready to lead a multinational force into Haiti, which is experiencing a surge in violence between police and gangs.

“At the request of Friends of Haiti Group of Nations, Kenya has accepted to positively consider leading a Multi-National Force to Haiti,” Minister Mutua said.

“Kenya’s commitment is to deploy a contingent of 1,000 police officers to help train and assist Haitian police restore normalcy in the country and protect strategic installations,” he added.

Minister Mutua, in a statement issued on Saturday, July 29, 2023 said that, an escalation of violence by Haiti’s armed gangs is driving a humanitarian crisis that has displaced tens of thousands of people in the region.

Mutual noted that the planned deployment from Kenya is still subject to getting a UN Security Council mandate and Kenyan authorisations.

“An Assessment Mission by a Task Team of the Kenya Police is scheduled within the next few weeks,” he said.

During early July 2023, the UN Secretary, General Antonio Guterres appealed to the Security Council and major potential contribution countries to act fast so as to create conditions for the deployment of multinational force to Haiti.