Kenya announced on October 17 that it would be sending an all-women contingent of police officers from the Special Weapons and Tactics Team to join the UN-supported peacekeeping mission in Haiti.

While the challenges Kenyan women face in the security sector remain substantial, as traditional biases and barriers continue to restrict their advancement, in recent years, Kenya has increased its efforts to integrate more women in senior security roles, challenging conventional practices.

Kenya first set a precedent by deploying women from the Kenya Defence Forces and National Police Service to the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia.

These deployments underscore a response to growing evidence that female peacekeepers can build stronger rapport with local communities, particularly with women and children affected by conflict. This impact aligns with UN studies showing that women peacekeepers improve communication, trust, and security in regions where they've been deployed.

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