NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenya is set to dispatch its last group of 600 police officers to Haiti on November 27 as part of an international security effort to curb gang violence in the Caribbean nation.
This final deployment follows the graduation of the officers on November 8, marking the end of an intensive eight-week training program.
The contingent, which includes members from both the Kenya Police and the Administration Police Service (APS), has undergone rigorous preparation designed to equip them for Haiti’s unique security challenges.
The General Service Unit (GSU) has contributed 200 officers, while the APS contingent includes an elite all-female Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja presided over the training’s completion ceremony at the National Police College Embakasi ‘A’ Campus, emphasizing the critical role Kenya’s forces will play in restoring order in Haiti.
The comprehensive training, initially planned to span 18 weeks, was condensed due to the urgent need for reinforcement in Haiti.
The program included specialized weapon handling, close-quarter combat techniques, physical endurance, and international relations training.
Officers selected for the mission were required to have at least five years of service experience and demonstrate fluency in English.
The upcoming deployment follows Kenya’s initial contribution of approximately 400 officers to the UN-authorized Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti, which began in June.
The mission, led by Kenya, has garnered support from at least ten other countries pledging around 2,900 troops.
However, only 430 personnel have deployed so far, nearly 400 of whom are Kenyan officers.
This new contingent will take a two-week leave before departure, ensuring they are rested and ready for the demands of their assignment.
In recent developments, President William Ruto spoke with US President-elect Donald Trump, discussing Kenya’s leadership in the Haiti mission and potential US-Kenya cooperation on conflict resolution.
“I congratulated him on his election and we discussed areas of mutual benefit, including security and governance,” Ruto said in a statement, highlighting Kenya’s role in spearheading the Haiti mission.
In response to the security situation, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) extended the mission’s mandate last month, underscoring global support for Kenya’s leadership in addressing Haiti’s escalating violence.
This final deployment follows the graduation of the officers on November 8, marking the end of an intensive eight-week training program.
The contingent, which includes members from both the Kenya Police and the Administration Police Service (APS), has undergone rigorous preparation designed to equip them for Haiti’s unique security challenges.
The General Service Unit (GSU) has contributed 200 officers, while the APS contingent includes an elite all-female Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja presided over the training’s completion ceremony at the National Police College Embakasi ‘A’ Campus, emphasizing the critical role Kenya’s forces will play in restoring order in Haiti.
The comprehensive training, initially planned to span 18 weeks, was condensed due to the urgent need for reinforcement in Haiti.
The program included specialized weapon handling, close-quarter combat techniques, physical endurance, and international relations training.
Officers selected for the mission were required to have at least five years of service experience and demonstrate fluency in English.
The upcoming deployment follows Kenya’s initial contribution of approximately 400 officers to the UN-authorized Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti, which began in June.
The mission, led by Kenya, has garnered support from at least ten other countries pledging around 2,900 troops.
However, only 430 personnel have deployed so far, nearly 400 of whom are Kenyan officers.
This new contingent will take a two-week leave before departure, ensuring they are rested and ready for the demands of their assignment.
In recent developments, President William Ruto spoke with US President-elect Donald Trump, discussing Kenya’s leadership in the Haiti mission and potential US-Kenya cooperation on conflict resolution.
“I congratulated him on his election and we discussed areas of mutual benefit, including security and governance,” Ruto said in a statement, highlighting Kenya’s role in spearheading the Haiti mission.
In response to the security situation, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) extended the mission’s mandate last month, underscoring global support for Kenya’s leadership in addressing Haiti’s escalating violence.
