The officers were flagged off by President William Ruto at the Administration Police Training College in Embakasi, Nairobi, after months of delays occasioned by court cases aimed at blocking the mission.

The Kenyan Head of State, who has come under heavy criticism in recent months over Kenya’s preparedness to tackle gang violence, expressed confidence that the presence of Kenya’s police in Haiti will restore much-needed order.

"Kenya has solid credentials in peace-making and conflict resolution globally. Our police officers’ presence in Haiti will give relief to the men, women and children whose lives have been broken by gang violence. We will work with the international community to bring lasting stability in Haiti," President Ruto stated.

The first contingent of 400 Kenyan police officers departed for Haiti aboard Kenya Airways (KQ) flight.

The Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti was authorised by the United Nations Security Council on October 2, 2023.

This followed widespread gang violence that has rendered much of the country lawless and ungovernable.

In 2021, assassins killed Haiti former President Jovenel Moise at his residence in the capital Port-au-Prince and the violence has not stopped as the gangs continue to attack police stations, prisons and other institutions.

President William Ruto briefs Kenyan police officers ahead of deployment to Haiti on Monday, June 25, 2024.

Kenya offered to send about 1,000 police to stabilise Haiti alongside personnel from several other countries but the mission faced hurdles after the High Court declared it illegal in January.

The court stated that the National Security Council lacked the legal authority to send police officers to another country, arguing that authorities could only deploy officers abroad if a "reciprocal arrangement" was in place with the host government.

The clergy prays for the Kenyan police officers ahead of deployment to Haiti.

The mission got the green light following the signing of the reciprocal agreement between Kenya and Haiti, witnessed by President Ruto and Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henri in March.

Kenya’s opposition leader Raila Odinga opposed the mission, stating that Haitians should be given the opportunity to institute home-grown solutions to establish a lasting democracy in the Caribbean nation, rather than having foreign nations advocate for external interference.

"The people of Haiti are of African descent and they have retained their Africanness; they are very proud people. They have just not been allowed because of external interference. Haitians should be encouraged to find a home-grown solution so that you can have a sustainable democracy in Haiti," Odinga said during a past interview.

"The Haitian issue does not need organs, we just need to have a conference to get Haitians together to create a condition for healing the wounds which have been inflicted so that a new nation can emerge in Haiti."