Kenya is about to join the Organisation of American States (OAS), a group made up of 34 countries from the Western Hemisphere, including the United States and Haiti.

This move would give Kenya a permanent observer status, allowing its diplomats to attend important meetings but without the ability to vote.

On Thursday, the OAS Permanent Council made the decision to officially invite Kenya to present its diplomats for accreditation.

The Council, which includes representatives from member countries, stated that Kenya would be granted permanent observer status, following the guidelines set in earlier resolutions.

The OAS, headquartered in Washington, is a platform where countries from the Americas discuss political issues, democratic governance, human rights, and regional security.

Once admitted, Kenya will join 75 other countries and organizations with the same observer status, including other African nations like Angola, Nigeria, Egypt, and Morocco.

Being part of this group could give Kenya the chance to listen to concerns and feedback about its involvement in Haiti. Kenyan police are set to be deployed in Haiti as part of the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS), which is backed by the UN and funded by the US.

The mission aims to restore law and order in Haiti, but it has faced criticism, particularly from some Haitian groups who view it as foreign interference. A Kenyan lawyer has also filed a case to stop the deployment, with a hearing scheduled for June 12.