First Lady Rachel Ruto on Saturday announced that she has formed a prayer strategy team to pray for the 1,000 officers being deployed to Haiti.
Addressing a congregation during the launch of the ‘Fourth Man’ EP by 1005 Songs & More, the First Lady emphasised the importance of prayers in the mission saying the government cannot allow the officers to leave the country without being prayed for.
She stated that she had formed the prayer strategy team and subsequently asked Kenyans to join in praying for the Caribbean country.
Rachel also assured Kenyans that the team chosen to lead the prayers would proclaim divine protection on the officers.
“We cannot allow our police to go to Haiti without prayer. We had pastors from Haiti and America, and we are seeing how these three countries can come together to pray because we believe with prayer everything is possible.
“We have come together to say we want to form a prayer strategy, and we would like you to join us in praying for this great country of Haiti because we know the Lord can transform Haiti. We have seen what God has done for the nation of Kenya, and we believe God can do the same for nations of the world,” she added.
Government halts deployment
Last week, the government announced that the planned deployment to Haiti was on hold following the resignation of Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry.
Announcing the development, Principal Secretary for foreign affairs Korir Sing’oei, stated that there was no anchor on which the deployment could rest since there was no political administration in Haiti.
He added that further decisions will be made when Haiti installs a new constitutional authority.
“The deal they signed with the president still stands, although the deployment will not happen now because definitely, we will require a sitting government to also collaborate with. Because you don’t just deploy police to go on the Port-au-Prince streets without a sitting administration,” an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs read as seen in the New York Times.
The deployment of 1,000 police officers to Haiti came as part of an international force to counteract gang violence in the Caribbean country.
Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Cabinet Secretary (CS) Alfred Mutua and Interior ministry officials said the force is being backed by the United Nations (UN) flag and sponsored by the United States.
Crime trends have been on the rise in Haiti after criminal gangs overpowered security agencies, Haiti’s government has asked for foreign military forces from various countries to help restore order.
