STORY: Kenya signs deal with Haiti to deploy 1,000 police officers to fight gangs
SHOOTING TIME: March 1, 2024
DATELINE: March 2, 2024
LENGTH: 0:01:42
LOCATION: Nairobi
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of signing ceremony witnessed by Kenyan President and Haitian Prime Minister
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): WILLIAM RUTO, Kenyan President
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ARIEL HENRY, Haitian Prime Minister

STORYLINE:

Kenya on Friday signed an agreement with Haiti to deploy 1,000 police officers to a multi-national security support mission, aimed at combating gang violence in the Latin American country.

The signing ceremony, held in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, was attended by Kenyan President William Ruto and visiting Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): WILLIAM RUTO, Kenyan President
"I want to call on the other stakeholders and the other partners that have made commitments to this journey, that this journey is as urgent as it can get. If what we saw yesterday in Port-au-Prince is anything to go by, it speaks to the urgency of this mission. And I want to say from Kenya, we are ready for this deployment."

Sources indicate that the police team could depart for Haiti as early as next week following a ceremony to be presided over by Ruto.

Henry assured that his government would offer full support to the Kenyan contingent to ensure the success of the mission.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ARIEL HENRY, Haitian Prime Minister
"We are facing a situation where young kids could not go to school, women cannot have medical attention that they deserve, and goods can not move inside the country. Indeed, there was appeal, and you stepped up, and you said we want to exercise solidarity with you. Thank you, President. We appreciate it."

The multi-national security support mission in Haiti was authorized by the United Nations Security Council on Oct. 2, 2023, under Resolution 2699, in response to widespread gang violence that has left much of the country lawless and ungovernable.

A Kenyan court, however, recently ruled the proposed deployment unconstitutional. Despite this, officials from the two countries have been working on a deal to expedite the arrival of forces in Haiti.

For years, Haitians have endured gang violence exacerbated by political turmoil, which has weakened state capacity, undermined security and hindered the delivery of essential services.

Armed clashes erupted in Haiti Thursday, coinciding with Henry's visit to Kenya, as a gang attacked the country's main international airport, police stations, and government agencies, disrupting normal operations.

The attacks occurred shortly after Henry met with Caribbean leaders in Guyana, where he reportedly pledged to hold long-awaited general elections by mid-2025.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Nairobi.
(XHTV)