Revealed: Requirements Kenyan Police Must Follow Before Mission To Haiti
The recruits include special assignment officers who will be joined by specialist officers among them 35 drivers, six sign-language specialists, 12 priests and pastors as well as 8 mechanics.
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The government has instructed top bosses from the General Service Unit (GSU) of the Kenya Police Service to begin recruiting the 1,000 police officers who will be deployed to Haiti during its peace mission.
The recruits include special assignment officers who will be joined by specialist officers among them 35 drivers, six sign-language specialists, 12 priests and pastors as well as 8 mechanics.
A signal dated October 7 from the GSU headquarters seen by Viral Tea and addressed to Inspector General of Police Japheth Koome indicated that the officers should be nominated by their supervisors and should belong to either the Police Corporal or Police Constable ranks.
"The unit is in the process of selection exercise of suitable officers for a special assignment," the circular read in part.
GSU officers respond to a terror attack at Nairobi's Dusit D2 Complex on January 15, 2019. /CAPITAL GROUP
"In view of this, you are urgently required to submit names of officers, each to nominate two police constables, and one police corporal from your commands."
The officers selected for the special assignment will be mandated to meet requirements such as:
- Possessing five years of experience within the National Police Service (NPS).
- Age range of between 20 and 55 years
- Must have not more than two convictions in their lifetimes, with the last coming not less than 6 months.
- Should be mentally and physically fit
- Ability to safely handle firearms and proven shooting skills
- Proficiency in English and demonstrate clear command and control. This is despite French being the national language in Haiti.
The signal also directed the commanders of various units and regions to select drivers and mechanics from the Recce unit.
They have also been directed to deploy chaplains and counsellors from the service to provide psychosocial support for those who will be involved in the action.
“The officer in charge of crime to nominate six signalers and drone operators,” states the signal.
“All the above-nominated specialists and police constables must have two years of active service in the National Police Service and be aged between 20 to 40 years.”
Kenya was approved by the United Nations (UN) to spearhead the international mission that will be funded by the US government, which is keen to end the Haiti hard drugs trade. Many of the drugs end up in the US but its past attempts to eliminate the trafficking led to accusations that America was seeking to occupy the small island nation.
This necessitated an international intervention involving police from various countries, led by Kenya, which has now started recruiting officers for the mission.
Kenya will be sending at least 1,000 police officers, mostly from the dreaded GSU, for the mission that many have described as dangerous given that gangs control over 80 per cent of Haiti’s capital, Port au Prince. The officers will be assisted by other contingents from partner countries including Jamaica, the Bahamas, and Antigua and Barbuda.
It is however awaiting Parliamentary approval, with Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki making it clear that the law enforcement officers will only start working after approval from the National Assembly and the Senate as required by law.
Article 240 of the Constitution requires Parliament to approve the deployment of security forces to any peacekeeping mission in foreign nations.
"There will be no shortcuts or violation of the Constitution in the deployment of our police officers to Haiti. Kenya has previously contributed troops to peacekeeping missions in Namibia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Somalia and Congo.
"Deployment of our security officers to Haiti will not in any compromise or undermine our commitment and responsibility to the safety and security of our citizens," he stated on Sunday, October 8 during a church service at St. Andrews ACK Ndenderu, Kiambaa Constituency, Kiambu County.
