'Unusually risky': Kenya faces scrutiny over Haiti mission

A Haitian police officer

A police officer stands guard outside the presidential residence in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. PHOTO | AFP

Photo credit: Valerie Baeriswyl | AFP

Kenya says it is ready to lead a UN-backed mission to Haiti, but at home faces growing pressure to justify the risky intervention and the wisdom of sending its police to the violence-ravaged nation.

The United Nations Security Council on Monday approved a Kenyan-led security operation to the Caribbean nation, where the economy has collapsed and violent gangs control territory seized from a weak government.