List of Police Officers Exempted From Haiti Deployment

Interior Security Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki made it clear on Sunday that elite police units will not be dispatched to Haiti.

While addressing a congregation at St. Andrews ACK Ndenderu in Kiambaa Constituency, Kiambu County, Kindiki emphasized that the government had decided against deploying these specialized officers to Haiti due to concerns over potential risks to national security.

Kindiki assured that the decision would not compromise the nation’s security efforts. He explained, “The deployment of elite, specialist-trained officers will remain focused on combating terrorism, banditry, and other significant threats to our national security.”

In summary, Interior Security Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki announced during a church service that elite police forces would not be sent to Haiti, prioritizing the preservation of national security.

He reiterated that the deployment of these elite officers would continue to address crucial security challenges within the country.

CS Kindiki revealed that Kenya has enough security officers assuring Kenyans that the country has the capacity to allocate police officers for the mission.

 “We have other officers we can reorganise and see whom to send there,” he said.

The CS stated that the country would deploy general police to the Caribbean nation which he said, would enable them to get international exposure.

Kindiki explained the government has taken the necessary steps to ensure the Haiti deployment does not undermine Kenya’s security in terms of personnel.

“I want to assure you that as the CS responsible for the security of the country, our deployment of officers in Haiti will not in any way affect our programs, our resolve and commitment to make sure that we defeat all the enemies of our security across our country,” Kindiki promised. 

Kindiki remarked that the elite police squad that is usually deployed to North Rift and Lamu will not be assigned to Haiti.

The Interior Cabinet Secretary further revealed that Kenya is yet to deploy the 1,000 police officers to Haiti, a position which contradicts former Foreign Affairs CS Alfred Mutua who previously announced that select police officers were already being taught French in preparation for deployment. 

Kindiki explained that the process would begin after both Houses of Parliament approve the mission.

The CS also seized the opportunity to urge leaders not to politicise the deployment.

Instructively, this came after Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga opined that the decision by Kenya to deploy officers to Haiti was misguided.

“We have enough problems in this region. We have our soldiers in Somalia and others in DRC, I don’t see the Haiti situation as a priority,” Raila stated on October 4.