NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenya’s interior minister says the east African country has deployed 217 more police officers to Haiti as part of an international effort to curb gang violence.
Kipchumba Murkomen said in a statement on Saturday that the police left Kenya on Friday.
“The Kenyan-led operation has made great progress in reducing gang violence, gaining international recognition,” said Mukomen, who shared a photo of himself with other police officers on the plane.
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“Kenya’s commitment to this historic project is unwavering,” he said.
Kenya first sent troops to the Caribbean country in June and the total number is now more than 600. Kenyan President William Ruto has promised to deploy 1,000 soldiers as part of the United Nations-backed force in Haiti.
Gang violence has left more than 700,000 Haitians homeless in recent years, many crowded into unsanitary shelters after gunmen destroyed their homes.
More than 5,600 people have been killed across Haiti last year, according to the UN The number of murders has increased by more than 20% compared to the rest of 2023, according to the UN Human Rights Office. In addition, more than 2,200 people were reported injured and nearly 1,500 were taken hostage, the statement said.