Constable Samuel Kaetuai, who died during a security operation in Haiti on Sunday, had always assured his family that he would be safe in the Caribbean nation, and looked forward to returning home after a successful mission.
The slain officer was the sole breadwinner, being the only employed child among his eleven siblings, has been described as an officer who always put the interest of others first. Back home, he was a role model to his siblings on matters of discipline and hard work.
The deceased’s father, Kaetwai Lesaru Salaash, said the death of his beloved son has been exacerbated by the fact that it happened over 12,000 kilometres from their Kajiado home.
The teary father could not hide his pain and anguish, saying nothing ever prepared them for the loss of his son who was a beacon of hope.
“When he went to Haiti six months ago, he was optimistic of a successful mission and coming back home. I remember he told me not to fear,” the father said, falling short of words to express his feelings.
Lesaru recalled his son’s best moment was when he secured the chance to train with the National Police Service (NPS).
“ He wanted to be a police officer and he pursued the same with passion and zeal. His patriotism was evident and he would do anything possible to guard and represent his country when called upon,” he said.
The family of the 28-year-old officer has also appealed to the government to expedite the transfer of the body to Kenya for burial rites.
“I want to accord him a decent burial and it hurts me more that his body is far away. I appeal to the government to ensure that they bring my son, who died a hero while representing my country, back home,” the devastated father said.
Shocking news
The death of the officer was officially announced to the family on Monday by a contingent of police officers who turned up at their home in Naserian village Kajiado East, around 9am.
Shocked and heartbroken friends, relatives and neighbours camped at the family home as they struggled to absorb the shocking news of the loss.
His younger brother, Amos Kaetuai, also described him as a shining star.
Kaetuai who served at the Border Patrol Unit in Mandera in 2021 has left a widow and two children.
The Multinational Security Support Mission (MSSM) Force Commander Godfrey Otunge said the constable was injured during an operation in the Artibonite region, north of the capital, Port-au-Prince. The Kenyan officers immediately pursued and killed the gang member who shot Constable Kitwai.
“One of our MSS officers from the Kenyan contingent was injured during an operation in Segur-Savien, in the Artibonite department.
The officer was immediately airlifted to Aspen Level 2 Hospital but, unfortunately, succumbed to the injuries,” he said in a statement. The Kenya police officers, in honour of the fallen officer, remained unbowed and vowed to pursue the gangs to the last man to ensure a safe and secure Haiti.
“This is the price our courageous officer paid, he was killed while fighting for the people of Haiti,” the mission’s spokesperson Jack Ombaka said in a statement.
Kenya suffered its first casualty after one police officer was on Sunday February 23 shot and killed in a clash with criminal gangs in Seguin in Pont-Sonde, Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
The Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) in Haiti commander Godfrey Otunge said the victim was among a team that had embarked on a mission to crush a gang operating in the area when he was shot and seriously injured.
He was airlifted to Level Two Aspen hospital where he succumbed to the injuries.
His colleagues responded and killed dozens of the criminals, officials said.
It marked the first casualty on the Kenyan team since they arrived there on June 25, 2024 to help the Caribbean nation contain criminal gangs.
Kenya has about 800 officers of the 1,000 needed.
Officials explained that over the past week, Kenyan police officers have been conducting continuous security operations in Artibonite, successfully neutralizing several gangs.
In response, the residents of Seguin in Pont-Sonde began calling for similar action in their area.
“Hearing their pleas, the brave Kenyan police officers answered the call.
This is the price our courageous officer paid—he was killed while fighting for the people of Haiti. His fellow officers, unwilling to accept the loss, pursued the gang member responsible and immediately neutralized him,” spokesman Jack Ombaka explained.
The El Salvador Causality Evacuation (CASEVAC) team who responded in a record time and the doctors at the hospital did all they could do to save the officer’s life in vain.
Haiti gang leader ‘Barbecue’
The Kenyan team is part of the group of a UN-approved international force that will be made up of 2,500 officers from various countries.
There are however concerns that even if the team manages to dislodge the bandits from this stronghold, the absence of an immediate and lasting occupation by the police or the army will allow them to return quickly.
But even 1,000 security personnel or the mission’s targeted goal of 2,500 is insufficient, security experts say.
There are around nearly 900 police and troops from Kenya, El Salvador, Jamaica, Guatemala and Belize.
Chronic instability, dictatorships and natural disasters in recent decades have left Haiti the poorest nation in the Americas.
Last year, Haiti saw a record number of neighborhoods in Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas fall to armed gangs, despite the presence of foreign forces and a new U.S.-backed transition government.
As the gangs took over neighborhoods and carried out some of the worst massacres in recent memory, they also deepened the country’s humanitarian crisis as tens of thousands more Haitians were forced to flee their homes.
The United Nations said more than 5,600 people were killed by gang violence last year, an increase over the previous two years, and over 1 million Haitians are now displaced.
The international security mission, while approved by the U.N. Security Council, is not a United Nations operation and currently relies on voluntary contributions.
Two weeks ago, the US delivered at least 600 assorted guns to the mission boosting ongoing operations against criminal gangs in the Caribbean nation.
The donation made on February 10 also included nine pickups, two trucks, two excavators, two armored loaders and tens of bullets.
President William Ruto has called on the African Union (AU) to formally recognize Haiti as part of Africa’s Sixth Region. Speaking at the 38th Ordinary Assembly of the AU in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, President Ruto proposed the adoption of a Draft Declaration on AU Solidarity with Haiti.
The proposal, announced by State House Spokesman Hussein Mohammed, seeks to affirm Haiti’s historical and cultural ties to Africa and ensure sustained support for the Caribbean nation, which is grappling with a devastating security and humanitarian crisis.
The Draft Declaration, also advocates for the transition of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti into a full-fledged United Nations Peacekeeping Operation.
This proposal comes as Kenya prepares to lead the MSS mission, deploying 1,000 police officers to Haiti in a bid to restore order and combat the rampant gang violence that has paralyzed the nation.
Haiti’s Crisis:
Haiti’s turmoil has intensified since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021. The power vacuum has been exploited by armed gangs, leading to widespread violence and lawlessness.
As of October 2024, gangs controlled approximately 80% of Port-au-Prince, the nation’s capital, resulting in over 3,661 deaths and displacing around 700,000 people within the year.
The Haitian National Police, undermined by limited resources and support, have struggled to combat these well-armed groups effectively.
Kenya’s Role in Haiti
In response to international calls for assistance, Kenya has taken a leading role in the MSS Mission in Haiti. The United Nations Security Council authorized this mission in October 2023, aiming to assist Haitian authorities in restoring law and order.
Kenya’s commitment has been substantial; by January 2025, it had deployed over 600 police officers to Haiti, working alongside personnel from countries such as Jamaica, Guatemala, and El Salvador.
Despite these efforts, the mission has faced challenges, including insufficient funding and equipment, which have hindered its overall effectiveness.
A new contingent of 144 Kenyan police officers was sent to Port-au-Prince, Haiti in January to join the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission aimed at combating gang violence in the Caribbean nation.
President Ruto’s call for Haiti’s inclusion in the AU’s Sixth Region underscores a broader vision of pan-African solidarity.
By integrating Haiti more closely with African institutions, there is potential for enhanced cultural, economic, and political ties.
This move could also pave the way for more robust support mechanisms to address the ongoing crisis in Haiti, leveraging the collective resources and influence of the African continent.
President Ruto has framed Kenya’s involvement as a moral obligation, citing Haiti’s historical ties to Africa. “Haiti is the daughter of the African continent,” Ruto stated during a recent address. “Their struggle is our struggle, and their freedom is our freedom.”
The proposal to declare Haiti as Africa’s Sixth Region is seen as an extension of this sentiment.
The concept of a “Sixth Region” refers to the African diaspora, which the AU has long sought to engage as part of its broader vision for continental unity and development.
Haiti, with its predominantly African-descended population and rich cultural heritage, holds a special place in this narrative.
Historical Ties: Haiti and Africa
Haiti’s connection to Africa dates back to the transatlantic slave trade, which brought millions of Africans to the Caribbean.
The Haitian Revolution (1791–1804), led by figures like Toussaint Louverture and Jean-Jacques Dessalines, was a defining moment in the fight against colonialism and slavery.
The revolution not only established Haiti as an independent nation but also inspired liberation movements across Africa and the Americas.
In recent years, Haiti has sought closer ties with the AU, becoming a full member in 2016. However, the country’s inclusion as part of Africa’s Sixth Region would mark a significant symbolic and political shift, potentially unlocking new avenues for support and collaboration.
Challenges
While President Ruto’s proposal has been welcomed by some as a bold and visionary move, it has also raised questions about its feasibility and implications. Critics argue that the AU, which already faces numerous challenges across the continent, may lack the resources and political will to take on Haiti’s complex crisis.
Additionally, the MSS mission itself has been criticized for its lack of clarity and potential risks. Human rights groups have warned that foreign interventions in Haiti have historically failed to address the root causes of instability and, in some cases, exacerbated the crisis.
Moreover, the legal framework for Kenya’s involvement has been contentious. Earlier, Kenya’s High Court had ruled against the deployment, citing constitutional issues, only for the government to navigate around these through bilateral agreements. This has sparked debates on sovereignty and the international legal precedents being set.
Looking Forward
President Ruto’s vision for Haiti involves not only security but also economic and political stabilization, potentially setting a precedent for how African nations can contribute to global peace efforts.
The proposal at the AU Assembly could lead to a formal declaration, enhancing Haiti’s access to African support mechanisms, from peacekeeping to economic aid and cultural exchanges.
However, the success of this initiative will hinge on several factors: the reception by both AU member states and the Haitian populace, the effective transition of the mission to UN oversight, and the genuine improvement in Haiti’s security and governance.
As the world watches, the unfolding of these events will not only define Haiti’s immediate future but also set a tone for international cooperation in crises across continents.
The United States has exempted the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission in Haiti from a funding freeze impacting US-funded international aid initiatives.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the position on Thursday in a telephone call with President William Ruto, State House reported.
Ruto and Rubio reaffirmed “our mutual commitment to strengthening our existing cooperation,” a dispatch reporting the conversation stated.
“Our discussion confirmed that the United States has specifically exempted its support for the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission in Haiti from the broader pause on federal assistance, recognizing the critical need to sustain momentum for the mission and its role in stabilizing Haiti and restoring order,” President Ruto asserted.
President Ruto’s confirmation of the funding status of the mission came as Kenya dispatched the fourth contingent of police officers serving under the MSS in Haiti on Thursday.
The 144 officers add to the 600 already stationed in Port-au-Prince.
Ruto’s National Security Advisor, Ambassador Monica Juma, had indicated that the US would exempt the MSS from aid cuts, allaying fears of a crippling funding freeze.
Juma’s statement followed reports that the US had issued a stop order on funding for the Kenya-led Haiti Multinational Security Support Mission, potentially plunging the UN-backed campaign into a funding crisis.
“It is true the U.S. contribution to the UN Trust Fund for MSS Haiti is on pause, affecting about USD 15 million in support. It is also true that the MSS mission is a priority and a beneficiary of the waiver,” Juma said.
“Meanwhile, there are sufficient funds in the UN Trust Fund for Haiti from other countries (approximately USD 110 million) to continue operations,” she explained.
Funding appeal
AFP had quoted Stéphane Dujarric, the UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson, as saying the move would impact USD 13.3 million in pending aid.
“We received an official notification from the U.S. asking for an immediate stop-work order on their contribution,” Dujarric told AFP.
Funding gaps, however, have remained a significant hurdle for the mission since Kenya deployed troops in June 2024.
The mission’s funding has topped President Ruto’s agenda with US officials, including during his State Visit to the United States in September 2024.
Prior to his arrival in Washington, Ruto had made a detour to Port-au-Prince, where he met Kenyan troops to reassure them of support amid concerns over delays in the provision of security hardware and financial assistance.
President Joe Biden’s administration had provided USD1.7 million out of its USD15 million pledge to a voluntary fund set up to support the mission, while Canada committed USD63 million.
The UN has raised USD110 million since the fund’s inception, an amount deemed insufficient to support the desired 2,500-member security mission.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has repeatedly called for international support, warning that Haiti’s capital could become overrun by gangs.
President Ruto’s phone call with Secretary Rubio also included a discussion on the forthcoming Joint Summit of the EAC and SADC, which he is set to co-chair on Saturday with President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe.
The Joint Summit, to be hosted by President Samia Suluhu in Dar es Salaam, will review the security situation, including the humanitarian crisis, in eastern DRC, where M23 rebels took over the city of Goma following intense fighting with government and SADC forces.
More than 100 Kenyan police arrived in Haiti’s capital on Thursday to reinforce a security mission whose future has been in limbo, after the U.S. froze some funding before passing a waiver to unlock a separate batch of funds.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking from Santo Domingo alongside Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader, acknowledged that the current mission, backed by the United Nations, was not enough to solve the current crisis.
Violent gangs, armed with weapons largely trafficked from the U.S., have united in the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince and now control most of the city. Gangs also control a swathe of other areas, including agricultural heartlands.
“The solution for Haiti is in the hands of the Haitian people, in the hands of the Haitian elite,” Rubio said. “But we will help, we cannot ignore the problems there.”
A new contingent of 144 Kenyan police officers was sent to Port-au-Prince, Haiti on Thursday to join the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission aimed at combating gang violence in the Caribbean nation.
The security mission, approved by the U.N. Security Council but not led by the U.N., has struggled to make headway in fighting gangs as its numbers remain far under target and it relies on voluntary contributions from member nations.
A contingent of 144 Kenyan soldiers touched down in Port-au-Prince on Thursday, with Kenyan President William Ruto adding he had spoken to Rubio about the mission.
The U.N. warned this week that the U.S. had frozen more than $13 million in funding for the security force that it had already paid into the U.N.’s dedicated fund, as part of U.S. President Donald Trump’s 90-day pause on foreign aid.
The move threw the already-shaky mission into limbo, with Haitians worried it would be shuttered altogether.
The State Department later said that Rubio had approved waivers on $40.7 million in foreign assistance to the Haitian National Police and the security mission.
That assistance will not, however, go into the dedicated U.N. fund, a State Department spokesperson said.
The violence in Haiti has displaced record numbers of residents, many internally but others fleeing to the neighboring Dominican Republic, with which Haiti shares the island of Hispaniola.
Rubio said the U.S. would not ask Dominican President Abinader to accept an influx of Haitian migrants.
Abinader in recent months launched a deportation drive to return some 10,000 migrants, mostly Haitians, to their home countries every week.
Abinader on Thursday tapped a military officer as drug czar, similar to Canada’s “fentanyl czar” post created to appease demands by Trump to crack down on the flow of illicit drugs.
Rubio will also sign a waiver to unlock funds for foreign aid programs in the Dominican Republic, he said.
National Security Advisor to President William Ruto, Monica Juma, has reassured the public that the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti will continue operations despite a recent freeze in U.S. funding.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Juma confirmed that there is approximately $110 million (Sh12.9 billion) available in the United Nations Trust Fund designated for Haiti.
“There are sufficient funds in the UN Trust Fund for Haiti from other countries (approximately $110M) to continue operations,” Juma stated, emphasizing the mission’s priority status despite financial hiccups.
This comes in the wake of the United States government’s decision to freeze over $13 million (Sh1.7 billion) in aid to the mission, a move announced following President Donald Trump’s 90-day foreign aid pause.
The pause, effective from January 20, when Trump took office, aims to review international aid in line with his “America First” policy. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric noted that of the $15 million initially committed by the U.S., $1.7 million had already been disbursed, leaving $13.3 million frozen.
The MSS in Haiti, while approved by the UN Security Council, operates independently of direct UN control and relies heavily on voluntary contributions from member states.
The mission, which aims to stabilize the security situation in Haiti, has seen contributions from countries like Canada, which has provided more than half of the funds in the trust.
Despite the funding, the mission is struggling with only about 900 police and troops from Kenya, El Salvador, Jamaica, Guatemala, and Belize on the ground, far below the planned 2,500 personnel.
The UN trust fund was established with the encouragement of the U.S. to facilitate contributions, but the response from member states has been tepid, with many citing donor fatigue.
The current funding scenario paints a picture of a mission that is under-resourced but committed to continue its humanitarian and security operations in Haiti.
Juma’s statement underscores Kenya’s determination to see the mission through, despite international financial volatility.
As the situation develops, the international community’s response to the funding needs of the MSS will be critical in determining the mission’s effectiveness and the broader implications for peacekeeping in volatile regions.
The National Police Service officers deployed as part of the Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti have intensified their patrols in major towns across Haiti in efforts to pacify the conflict-prone region.
Superintendent of Police Edwin Kolil says these patrols will continue to ensure peace and allow Haitians to return to their homes.
“The members of the public in this country, they are very good, they interract with us everyday, and they give us information concerning the movement of each and every gang. And we get that information we react promptly to maake sure that we push them aware and we make sure that they stay safe,” he said.
The NPS officers, in collaboration with their colleagues from the National Haitian Police, have been conducting both ground and aerial surveillance using drone technology to monitor the security situation and ensure that the gangs, who have been terrorizing Haitians, do not access these areas.
Kenyan police officers began patrolling Port-au-Prince six months ago as part of a UN-backed mission to battle armed gangs that who control 80 percent of the capital.
Several hundred Kenyan police officers have been deployed to the Caribbean nation.
Since February 2024, the surge of violence led by “Viv Ansam,” a type of gang coalition, has claimed the lives of over 5,000 people. Furthermore, more than 2,000 women and girls have suffered sexual violence under a regime of terror that has isolated the capital city and blocked access to rural areas.
World Vision warns this protracted insecurity and hunger crisis is deepening hunger and malnutrition, in a country where more than 5 million Haitians face food insecurity, according to the UN.
The UN’s migration agency said there were now 108 severely overcrowded displacement sites in Port-au-Prince for such families, up from 73 a year ago. They include schools, churches and even government ministry buildings which have been occupied by destitute Haitians unsure when – or even if – they will be able to return home. The number of displaced people has tripled over the last year from about 315,000 in December 2023 to 1.04 million now.
Kenya has deployed 270 additional police officers to Haiti as part of the Multinational Security Support Mission.
Officials say contingent to Port-au-Prince left the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Friday night.
The deployment comes amid growing concerns over escalating gang violence in Haiti, where armed groups have overrun parts of the capital and forced thousands to flee their homes.
The Kenyan officers are expected to reinforce the mission’s efforts to stabilize the country and support local security forces in restoring order.
This latest deployment follows an initial contingent of 400 officers sent by Kenya in June, fulfilling the country’s commitment to lead the United Nations-backed mission. The MSS was launched to provide security assistance to Haitian authorities struggling to contain widespread violence.
Meanwhile, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has indicated that his administration will continue supporting the mission after he takes office next week. During a campaign event earlier this month, Trump suggested that backing the multinational force in Haiti aligns with his broader security agenda.
The U.S. has been a key financial and logistical supporter of the mission, pledging over $300 million to fund the deployment of Kenyan and other international forces. Trump’s remarks are expected to reassure allies concerned about a potential shift in U.S. policy following his inauguration.
Kenyan authorities have defended their role in the mission, dismissing concerns over the safety of their officers amid the deteriorating security situation in Haiti. President William Ruto has reiterated that Kenya remains committed to international peacekeeping efforts and will continue working alongside global partners to restore stability in the Caribbean nation.
The deployment of Kenyan forces has, however, faced legal and political challenges at home, with critics questioning the government’s decision to send police officers on an international security mission. Some lawmakers have called for increased oversight to ensure the safety and welfare of the officers stationed in Haiti.
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Despite the concerns, Kenyan police officials say the officers have undergone extensive training and are equipped to handle the challenges of the mission. The troops are expected to assist Haitian law enforcement in securing key government institutions, critical infrastructure, and civilian populations affected by gang violence.
As the situation in Haiti remains volatile, the success of the MSS could hinge on continued international support and coordination among participating nations. Kenya’s latest deployment signals a strengthened commitment to the mission, even as global attention turns to how Trump’s administration will engage with the crisis moving forward.
The United Nations Security Council has authorized a 12-month extension for the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) in Haiti, which Kenya leads.
Acting under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, the Council extended the current mandate, as set out in resolution 2699 (2023), to October 2, 2025. This extension aims to support the Haitian National Police in maintaining security and sustaining the gains achieved by the MSS mission.
The decision was immediately welcomed by Kenya’s National Police Service.
“The National Police Service reaffirms its commitment to international law enforcement, working closely with the people of Haiti, and partners supporting the MSS to ensure peace and security in Haiti,” said NPS in a statement.
The UNSC authorised the Haiti mission last year in response to escalating violence, criminal activities, and human rights abuses that threaten the peace, stability, and security of Haiti and the surrounding region.
The mission’s objectives include restoring order, combating criminal gangs, and enabling the interim government to operate effectively.
The first contingent of Kenyan police arrived in Haiti in June. Since then, they have worked alongside local personnel to successfully liberate several areas in the capital, Port-au-Prince, that were previously controlled by criminal gangs.
The Kenya Kwanza administration has continued to push for the extension of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti.
Speaking during a Ministerial Meeting on Building on Progress to Restore Security in Haiti on Thursday, September 26, 2024, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi emphasised the need to renew police tenure for 12 months.
Mudavadi noted that the 410 police officers deployed to Haiti have not fully achieved what was previously expected.
With the tenure of the mission expected to lapse at the start of October 2024, Mudavadi called on the Security Council to consider extending the mission.
Building a strong case for the extension, Mudavadi indicated that it would allow the country to deploy the full 2,500 police officers as agreed during the United Nations Security Council meeting which would then achieve the much-needed results in restoring peace in the Caribbean nation.
“However, I emphasized that with only 410 officers currently deployed out of the planned 2,500, there is a limit to what can be achieved. I called on the Security Council to consider extending the Mission for another year, enabling the full deployment necessary to accomplish its mandate,” a statement shared by Mudavadi read in part.
Resources
Besides extending the mission, Mudavadi called on the Security Council to explore ways of providing resources to help the law enforcement officers deployed to Haiti to fulfil their mandate.
“I urged the Council to explore innovative approaches for the United Nations to provide the essential resources required to sustain and build upon the progress made by the MSS,” Mudavadi’s statement added.
While pushing for the extension and more resources, Mudavadi told several diplomatic heads and members of the UN Security Council that the Kenyan police officers have so demonstrated that it is possible to restore lasting peace in Haiti.
The Prime Cabinet Secretary observed that since Kenyan police officers landed in Haiti, they have taken control of Port-au-Prince, including downtown, and have significantly bolstered the protection of civilians.
He further detailed that the security officers have played an integral role in clearing roadblocks and opening access routes, thereby facilitating a smoother flow of humanitarian aid to those in need.
Ruto visiting Haiti
Mudavadi’s sentiments came days after President William Ruto visited the Kenyan police officers in Haiti before heading to New York for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
During his visit, Ruto indicated that he was open to converting it into a full UN peacekeeping mission.
“On the suggestion to transit this into a fully U.N. Peacekeeping mission, we have absolutely no problem with it, if that is the direction the U.N. security council wants to take,” Ruto said.
The 15-member council is expected to vote on September 30, 2024, on the mandate renewal.
Ready, that is the statement of the government as Kenya is prepared to dispatch several hundred police officers from the multinational force to Haiti.
This is the first cohort of officers who have already received appropriate training and been recalled from leave this week, according to information reported by the New York Times (NYT) on Tuesday.
Kenya will deploy close to 1,000 police officers to Haiti for a peace enforcement mission, just 14 days before President William Ruto’s state visit to the United States on May 23, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The American newspaper reports that the selection process for officers to be deployed happened last year in October.
Citing insider information, it’s reported that some 400 officers were chosen for the first deployment and began training, with an additional 100-member support staff that includes medics. Another, similarly sized group would also prepare to deploy soon.
The officers said they received physical and weapons training from Kenyan and American security personnel and were given details about how Haitian gangs operate.
They also took French classes and lessons on human rights and Haiti’s history. The police officers said they were aware of previous failed international interventions in Haiti. But they argued that those interventions had been largely viewed by Haitians as occupation forces, while their goal is to support the local police and protect civilians.
Besides the prestige that comes with serving abroad, officers said the additional pay that comes with their service is another motivation.
The officers were chosen from Kenya’s General Service Unit and the Administration Police, two paramilitary units tasked with dealing with everything from riots and cattle rustling to protecting borders and the president.
Other countries involved in Haiti
The multi-national force mission, sanctioned by the UN Security Council, will be spearheaded by the Kenyan police and is aimed at curbing gang violence in Haiti following the installation of a new American-backed transitional government.
More than 100 Air Force aircraft are expected to arrive and leased by the U.S. Department of State.
In that context, the Haitian National Police (PNH) could be receiving reinforcements from foreign troops since May 26.
So far, seven countries in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean have shown their willingness to provide men for the Multinational Security Support Mission, which will be deployed in Haiti.
These countries are Kenya – which offered to lead the operations – Benin and Chad among Africans; Bahamas, Jamaica and Barbados among the Caribbean countries, as well as Bangladesh. Suriname recently announced that it will send a group of troops to Haiti.
Among the nations mentioned, Chad and Bangladesh have experience in international deployments in peace missions, but the United Nations (UN) has always made it clear that now the task will be to support the PNH in the fight against armed gangs.
Jitters
However, Kenyans are increasingly getting jittery about the mission. In January a Kenyan court rejected the plan to send police officers to Haiti.
Kenya had initially aimed to enter Haiti in early January, but legal obstacles and a power vacuum delayed the plan.
Despite facing challenges, Nairobi, according to President Ruto, remains committed to sending its forces to the gang-afflicted Caribbean nation to help restore order.
The Miami Herald reported last week that American civilian contractors have begun arriving in Haiti to assist in preparing for the arrival of Kenyan police, according to a top official from the administration of US President Joe Biden.
A U.S. military cargo plane arrived on Saturday at Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince. An operations base for the international mission is being set up at the airport.Credit…Odelyn Joseph/Associated Press
The Pentagon, already having committed Sh26 billion to support the mission, is tasked with preparing a base for the incoming forces.
According to Todd D. Robinson, the US assistant secretary of state for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, an initial deployment of Kenyan police officers is being coordinated to coincide with the arrival of Ruto in Washington later this month.
State visit
The White House confirmed that Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will host Ruto and his wife Rachel for a state visit on May 23, commemorating the 60th anniversary of US-Kenya diplomatic relations.
Robinson declined to give an exact date or the number of officers to be deployed as part of the long-awaited multinational security support mission.
Washington is reported to have transported civilian contractors to support the Pentagon to build out the area where the Kenyan support mission will stay while in Haiti.
But Republican lawmakers in Congress have ignored a request by the State Department to release Sh5 billion of the Sh13 billion it has pledged to support the mission.
The American administration has been criticised for not giving lawmakers clear details about the force. UN member states have shown reluctance towards the mission, possibly signalling fatigue within the international community regarding interventions in Haiti.
Despite the substantial funding required for the mission, countries are seemingly turning a blind eye, with the UN deployment fund currently at only Sh2 billion.
“The funds were provided by Canada, France, and the United States,” said Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
He noted that Kenya, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Chad, and Jamaica had notified the UN Secretary-General in writing of their intention to provide boots, as requested by the UN Security Council.
The Haitian police, having been outgunned and outnumbered, have struggled to curb gang violence. In some cases, they’ve been unable to stop invasions of neighbourhoods and the takeover of police stations as the gangs tightened their grip on the capital Port-au-Prince.
The police have succeeded in fighting back attempts to take over the National Palace, the Central Bank, and the international airport, which they’ve protected with help from members of the small Haitian Army.
Frank Elbe, director general of the Haiti National Police, indicated that since the attacks began on February 29, his officers had not only engaged in combat with the gangs but also constructed a buffer zone surrounding the airport.
Elbe’s residence was set on fire by gangs during the chaos. “
We’ve reinforced the security perimeter inside and outside of the airport,” he said.
“The police have carried out a lot of operations that have allowed for improvements in the security at the airport. We’ve also demolished a lot of houses.”
He said the goal is to build the confidence needed for US airlines to resume commercial flights to Haiti, which have been suspended since March 4.
“The second phase of our strategy is to dismantle the gangs and create a space where the government can provide services to neighbourhoods once occupied by gangs,” he said.
That is where the foreign forces, led by Kenya, will help, Elbe said.
“They can help us in the operations that we are going to do to dismantle the gangs.”
While Ruto’s government says Kenya is now ready to deploy to Haiti, some fear the mission will fail as not enough police officers will be sent to fight the gangs.
Haitian gang leaders have vowed to fight the deployment, raising concerns of even worse violence in a country where thousands of people have been killed in recent months and more than 350,000 have fled their homes in the past year.
Ruto’s critics have accused him of illegally pursuing the deployment and not publishing a document stipulating how Kenyan forces can operate in Haiti. They also plan to file another legal challenge accusing his administration of contravening earlier court orders around the mission.
International obligations
Ruto cites the need to support a “mission for humanity” and ensure Kenya fulfils its international obligations.
He commissioned church leaders to meet with Haitian law enforcement, military representatives, and a gang leader to discuss Kenya’s security mission.
In March, as armed groups escalated their insurgency in the capital Port-au-Prince and plunged Haiti deeper into a historic humanitarian crisis, Kenyan pastors advising President Ruto’s government met for three days at a hotel in Nairobi to pray for the police officers.
In a serene sky-blue conference room within the confines of the Weston Hotel, three Kenyan pastors convened with Haitian and American ministry leaders alongside Kenya’s ‘praying’ First Lady Rachel Ruto.
In 2021, assassins killed former Haitian President Jovenel Moise at his residence in Port-au-Prince. In late February, gang-related violence halted operations at the country’s main airport, leaving several police officers dead and paralysing the capital.
