NAIROBI, Kenya — The United States has formally recognised the first group of Kenyan police officers deployed to Haiti in June 2024, crediting them with playing a decisive role in preventing the Caribbean nation from descending into total collapse amid rampant gang violence.
Speaking on Thursday during a ceremony at the National Police Service’s Embakasi A Campus, US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said the officers arrived in Haiti at a critical moment when the country’s fragile institutions were on the brink of failure.
“The international community called on countries to restore order and safety in Haiti. Only one country stepped up to the plate, and that was Kenya,” Landau said, addressing the officers. “Each one of you answered that call.”
Landau said Haiti’s government would likely not have survived the sustained onslaught by armed gangs without the timely intervention of the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, noting that the officers operated under extremely difficult conditions, including shortages of equipment and coordination challenges.
“I say this with total conviction and honesty: that government would not have survived but for your presence there,” he said.
During the ceremony, the officers—drawn from specialised units within the Administration Police and the Regular Police—were awarded certificates of recognition from the US government.
Officers who lost their lives during the mission were honoured posthumously.
The event was attended by senior Kenyan and US officials, including Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, National Security Advisor Monica Juma, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Susan Burns, and US Africa Command Commander General Dagvin Anderson.
Following the initial deployment, Kenya sent three additional contingents to Haiti, including 20 women from the National Police Service SWAT team.
The officers served under the MSS mission before transitioning into the newly established Gang Suppression Force (GSF), which now leads security operations in Port-au-Prince.
Dr Juma said the mission had delivered on its mandate due to the professionalism of Kenyan officers and sustained support from the United States and other partner countries.
“It gives me immense satisfaction that the MSS, now GSF, delivered on its mandate because of its professionalism and the invaluable support from the US government,” she said.
She added that Kenya’s decision to deploy officers to Haiti was informed by decades of experience in international peace support missions, citing Kenya’s involvement in 46 missions across Africa, Europe and Asia.
Interior CS Murkomen expressed confidence that officers currently serving under the GSF would be better equipped and supported to counter Haiti’s gang threat.
“The establishment of the Gang Suppression Force marked a transition to a stronger and better-resourced mission,” Murkomen said. “We are confident that the 5,500-strong GSF will reclaim territory, restore state authority and enable normal life and economic activity for Haitians.”
Inspector General Kanja noted that cooperation with the United States extends beyond Haiti, strengthening Kenya’s capacity in counter-terrorism, cybercrime, counter-narcotics and the fight against human trafficking.
Deputy Inspector General of the Administration Police Service Gilbert Masengeli said skills acquired during the Haiti mission would be deployed locally to enhance Kenya’s domestic security operations.
