Azimio la Umoja - One Kenya coalition leader Raila Odinga has poked holes in the government's plans to deploy 1,000 police officers to combat criminal gangs in Haiti, terming the mission as a misplaced priority.
Speaking during an interview with a local TV station on Wednesday night, the opposition chief said the security situation in the Caribbean nation needs political solutions and not "more guns".
“Why Kenya? The US itself withdrew its forces from there, the problem with Haiti is political, they do not need more guns to calm that situation," Raila stated.
"I don't see if the situation in Haiti is a priority to Kenyans," he added.
He warned that many US security officers lost their lives in Haiti, saying the government should be wary of the armed gangs in the country.
The Americans withdrew from Haiti because of the challenges they encountered in the country. We will regret sending our officers to Haiti when they come back in coffins," he added.
President Ruto signed a deal with the United National Security Council to send 1,000 police officers to Haiti last month.
Kenya's offer to lead the mission received a nod from the United Nations Security Council on Monday with 13 votes in favour and 2 abstentions from Russia and China.
President Ruto yesterday said he was confident the mission would succeed.
“The situation in Haiti demands, as a matter of humanitarian consideration, moral responsibility and fundamental justice, that actions be scaled up significantly to meet the demands of emergency relief, humanitarian aid, support for livelihoods and major interventions in public health and environmental protection,” the president said.
“…We shall succeed in Haiti. We must not fail the people of Haiti,” he added.
