Kenya ready to lead multinational force to Haiti

Kenya is ready to lead a multinational force into Haiti, which is experiencing a surge in violence between police and gangs, its foreign minister said on Saturday.

"At the request of the Friends of Haiti Group of Nations, Kenya has accepted to positively consider leading a Multi-National Force to Haiti," Foreign Minister Alfred Mutua said in a statement.

"Kenya's commitment is to deploy a contingent of 1,000 police officers to help train and assist Haitian police restore normalcy in the country and protect strategic installations."

Mutua said the planned deployment from Kenya is still subject to getting a U.N. Security Council mandate and Kenyan authorisations.

"An Assessment Mission by a Task Team of the Kenya Police is scheduled within the next few weeks," he said.

Haiti Welcomes Kenyan Offer to Lead Multinational Force

Haiti has welcomed "with great interest" a Kenyan offer to lead a 1,000-strong multinational force to bolster security in the violence-torn Caribbean country.

"Haiti appreciates this expression of African solidarity," a statement from Foreign Minister Jean Victor Généus said Sunday, "and looks forward to welcoming Kenya's proposed evaluation mission."