According to Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, the government has invested 241 million US dollars (Sh36,571,750,000) in training some police officers designated for deployment to Haiti.
Kindiki made it clear during his appearance before the bicameral house's joint committees on the deployment to Haiti that the money used for preparation would be reimbursed as soon as they received the all-clear to deploy.
"I have attached a small amount that is preparatory work, we have 241 million US dollars for essential preparations so that when it is green we shall deploy," Kindiki said.
The whole multinational mission, according to Kindiki, will cost 600 million US dollars.
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Joint Sitting with National Assembly and Senate Committees on National Security, Defence and Foreign relations on the request for approval by Parliament of deployment of NPS officers to Haiti. https://t.co/yjHeCdxQr5
— Kithure Kindiki (@KindikiKithure) November 9, 2023
"Overall pending budget review is 600 million US dollars. The amount will cater for the preparation of the officers, kitting, logistics, transport, accommodation and bringing the officers back home," he said.
According to the CS, the government will stagger the deployment of the 1000 officers for strategic reasons rather than all at once.
"We are not taking the 1000 officers at once, we are taking them in batches," Kindiki stated.
While they await the court ruling that prohibited the deployment, the identification process for the 1000 officers has already begun.
Additionally, the CS refuted allegations that the massive deployment would jeopardize national internal security.
"Our assurance is that we have taken great detail to make sure we do not affect the security of the country," he stated.
Kenya will not allow its troops to exit the Country for Haiti until all the required resources, including equipment and finances, are mobilised and availed.
— Kithure Kindiki (@KindikiKithure) November 9, 2023
No taxpayers' money will be spent to deploy the 1,000 National Police Service Officers as part of the Multi-National… pic.twitter.com/rWMKthEUje
The deployment of 1,000 police officers to Haiti was approved by the Cabinet last month, bypassing a further legal hurdle and providing the move with the legal backing it needed.
According to a statement from State House in Nairobi, the deployment has been approved by the nation's council of ministers. It will now be referred to ParliamentParliament for the necessary ratification.
A Multinational Security Support Mission to Haiti has been offered to be led by Kenya.
The government's choice to send the troops has generated controversy, and one attorney has already filed a lawsuit to halt the deployment completely.
Before this, the High Court had temporarily halted deployment plans because the attorney claimed there had been no Cabinet decision, and Parliament was being disregarded.
During an assessment study in August, twelve senior police officers visited Toussaint Louverture International Airport and surrounding locations in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
Arrived in Lamu West Constituency, Lamu County to engage and take views from elders and representatives of the various communities resident in Lamu County; to enhance trust across communities and between communities and security agencies. pic.twitter.com/5RmD5CtHiJ
— Kithure Kindiki (@KindikiKithure) November 7, 2023
To comprehend the needs of the local populace, the team, headed by Deputy Inspector General of Administration Police Noor Gabow, also met with representatives of the Haitian government in New York, US.
If Congress approves, the US will contribute $200 million to the MSS.
