Kenya has committed to sending an additional 600 police officers to Haiti in the coming weeks to bolster efforts against gangs that control much of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and surrounding areas. This increase will raise the total number of Kenyan officers deployed since June to 1,000, aimed at supporting Haiti’s struggling police force.
During his visit, President William Ruto expressed support for transforming the current Kenya-led security mission into a full United Nations peacekeeping operation. Several other countries have pledged at least 1,900 additional troops to assist.
Violence remains rampant in Haiti, with a UN human rights expert warning that gangs are expanding their reach, resulting in further displacement of residents. The UN Security Council is scheduled to meet by the end of the month to decide on renewing Kenya’s mandate for another 12 months, which could pave the way for a full UN mission in 2025 and enhance funding and resources for the operation, which has faced challenges due to equipment shortages.
Addressing the Kenyan officers at their base in Port-au-Prince, President Ruto praised their recent successes. “Many people thought Haiti was mission impossible, but today they have changed their minds because of the progress you have made,” he stated, assuring them that they would succeed in combating the gangs and vowing to secure better equipment for their operations.
With nearly 400 Kenyan officers currently on patrol alongside Haitian forces to restore security, Ruto noted, “Our next batch, an additional 600, is undergoing redeployment training. We will be mission-ready in a few weeks’ time and look forward to the requisite support to enable their deployment.”
However, there has been criticism within Haiti regarding the mission’s effectiveness, with a UN human rights expert highlighting the inadequacy of equipment, specifically the need for helicopters, night vision goggles, and drones to enhance operations against the gangs.
“The Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS), authorized by the UN Security Council in October 2023, has deployed less than a quarter of its planned contingent,” William O’Neil stated on Friday. He highlighted that, despite an international embargo, arms and ammunition continue to be smuggled into Haiti, enabling gangs to expand their control over new territories.
During his visit to the south-east of the country, O’Neil noted that the police lack the logistical and technical capacity to effectively counter the gangs. He quoted a policeman in Jérémie, who expressed the dire situation: “The situation borders on the impossible. We have to learn to walk on water.”
The expert reported a drastic increase in sexual violence, with more than 700,000 people now displaced. “This enduring agony must stop. It is a race against time,” he emphasized, stating that existing solutions are available but require immediate and intensified efforts.
“It is crucial to stifle the gangs by equipping the MSS Mission to effectively support the operations of the Haitian National Police. Additionally, measures outlined by the UN Security Council, including the sanctions regime and the targeted arms embargo, must be implemented,” he concluded.
