NAIROBI, Kenya — In a move to combat escalating gang violence in Haiti, 217 Kenyan police officers departed from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport early Saturday morning.
The officers are the latest reinforcements for the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) in the Caribbean nation, a mission spearheaded by Kenya under United Nations backing.
The group, comprised of various units from the National Police Service, was flagged off by senior officials from Kenya’s Interior and Foreign Affairs ministries.
They boarded a Kenya Airways flight, which took off at about 2 a.m. on January 18.
To ensure a safe arrival at Port-au-Prince, the plane will be escorted by American aviation officials, as the airport remains closed due to gang threats until March 2025.
This deployment marks the continuation of Kenya’s commitment to the MSS, which aims to stabilize Haiti, a country plagued by chronic instability, natural disasters, and political turmoil.
The newly dispatched officers will join 400 Kenyan police already stationed in Haiti, with plans to increase the total contingent to 1,000 in the coming months.
The MSS’s objective is clear: to support the Haitian National Police (HNP) in regaining control over regions dominated by criminal gangs.
The reinforcement of Kenyan police will bolster these efforts, particularly with the recent graduation of 739 Haitian officers from intensive training.
Kenya’s leadership in this mission has been commended internationally.
During a recent Senate Foreign Relations Committee session, US Secretary of State nominee Marco Rubio lauded Kenya’s proactive stance, despite financial hurdles, in addressing Haiti’s crisis.
Rubio stressed that stabilizing Haiti would require a collaborative international approach rather than unilateral military intervention by the US.
The international coalition now includes contributions from Guatemala, El Salvador, Jamaica, and Belize, each deploying troops to assist in restoring order.
The Biden administration has advocated for transforming the MSS into a formal UN peacekeeping mission to secure consistent funding and enhance operational effectiveness.
Haiti’s challenges are profound, exacerbated by the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, which plunged the nation further into chaos.
The MSS’s gradual buildup and strategic partnerships aim to pave the way for long-term stability, potentially leading to legitimate governance and future elections.
