Kenya Insights

Tag: Kenya police deployment to Haiti

  • Kenyan Officer Killed in Haiti Was Family’s Sole Breadwinner; Only One Employed Among Seven Siblings

    Kenyan Officer Killed in Haiti Was Family’s Sole Breadwinner; Only One Employed Among Seven Siblings

    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.

  • Kenyan Police Officer Killed In Clash With Gangs In Haiti

    Kenyan Police Officer Killed In Clash With Gangs In Haiti

    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.

  • Ruto Wants Haiti To Be Declared Part Of Africa

    Ruto Wants Haiti To Be Declared Part Of Africa

    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.

  • Trump Halts Sh1.17B Funding for Haiti Security Mission

    Trump Halts Sh1.17B Funding for Haiti Security Mission

    More than $13 million (Sh1.71 billion) in US funding for an international security force helping fight armed gangs in Haiti has been frozen under President Donald Trump’s 90-day pause on foreign aid, the United Nations said on Tuesday.

    Powerful gangs, armed with weapons largely trafficked from the United States, have united in the Caribbean country’s capital Port-au-Prince under a common alliance and now control most of the city and are expanding to nearby areas.

    The international security mission, while approved by the UN Security Council, is not a United Nations operation and currently relies on voluntary contributions. The mission has so far made little progress toward helping Haiti restore order.

    There are around nearly 900 police and troops from Kenya, El Salvador, Jamaica, Guatemala and Belize. More than $110 million (Sh14.1 billion) has been paid into a UN trust fund for the mission, more than half of it from Canada, according to UN data.

    “The US had committed $15 million (Sh1.9 billion) to the trust fund; $1.7 million (Sh219 million) of that had already been spent, so $13.3 million (SH1.71 billion) is now frozen,” UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters. “We received an official notification from the U.S. asking for an immediate stop work order on their contribution.”

    Just hours after taking office on January 20, Trump ordered a 90-day pause so foreign aid contributions could be reviewed to see if they align with his “America First” foreign policy.

    Trump said on Tuesday he thinks he will wind down the US Agency for International Development, in what would be a dramatic overhaul of how the world’s largest single donor allocates foreign assistance.

  • UN Want Deployment Of Kenyan-Led Mission To Haiti Hastened

    UN Want Deployment Of Kenyan-Led Mission To Haiti Hastened

    The population is severely deprived of enjoying its human rights in Haiti, where state institutions are close to collapse, warned a UN report on Thursday.

    “Corruption, impunity and poor governance, compounded by increasing levels of gang violence, have eroded the rule of law and brought state institutions… close to collapse,” according to the UN Human Rights Office report.

    Haiti has been under siege internally since mid-2021 when gangs took over infrastructure and violent upheaval saw battles for turf. Medical help has evaporated and starvation looms as food supplies are almost non-existent.

    “The impact of generalised insecurity on the population is dire and deteriorating … and the population is severely deprived of enjoying its human rights,” added the report, covering the period from Sept. 25, 2023 to Feb. 29, 2024.

    A rampage by gangs March 18 targeted previously peaceful upscale neighborhoods in the country’s capital, and at least a dozen people were killed.

    Thousands have been killed in the conflict while hundreds of thousands have fled the country.

    The UN study said the number of people killed and injured due to gang violence significantly increased in 2023, 4,451 killed and 1,668 injured.

    Separately, the number of victims skyrocketed in the first three months of 2024, 1,554 killed and 826 injured up to March 22.

    Haiti gangs members
    Haiti gangs have created havoc in the country leading to a nearly ungovernable situation.

    UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said tackling insecurity must be a top priority to protect the population and prevent further human suffering.

    “It is equally important to protect institutions essential to the rule of law, which have been attacked to their very core,” he added.

    According to the report, enhancing security alone “will not bring long-lasting solutions” and calls for policies aiming at the restoration of the rule of law and the prevention of violence to be pursued.

    “It is shocking that despite the horrific situation on the ground, arms keep still pouring in. I appeal for a more effective implementation of the arms embargo,” Turk said.