Kenya's cabinet has ratified the deployment of about 1,000 Kenyan police officers to Haiti to assist in establishing security in the country, Kenyan newspaper The Star reported on Friday, citing the cabinet's decision.
"As part of the Multinational Security Support Mission pursuant to UN Security Council Resolution, the Cabinet ratified the deployment of the National Police Service to Haiti as sanctioned by the National Security Council," the cabinet's resolution cited by The Star read.
The cabinet is expected to begin further discussions on the initiative and approval of the deployment next week.
The inspector general of Kenya's National Police Service, Japhet Koome, confirmed to The Star that the first batch of about 200 police officers had already started preparatory training before being sent to Haiti. They could be deployed there as early as the beginning of November, an unnamed source familiar with the matter told the newspaper.
About a year ago, Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry called on the international community to create a "specialized armed force" to ensure stability in the country, which has been mired in criminal gang violence and a deep social, humanitarian and political crisis.
Kenyan Foreign Minister Alfred Mutua said earlier this year that Kenya was prepared to send 1,000 police officers to train and assist the Haitian police in restoring normal life in the country and guarding strategic facilities. In late August, a delegation of Kenyan law enforcement agents visited Haiti to collect information about the mission requirements.