Did Kenya Send Unprepared Police to Hati?

The National Police Service (NPS) has addressed reports of lack of capacity of Kenyan police officers serving under the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti.

Kenya deployed officers to Haiti in June 2024, following the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2699 (2023), which authorized the Kenyan-led MSS mission in to provide operational support to the Haitian National Police in combating gang violence.

NPS, in a statement on April 15, while maintaining that Kenyan officers remain steadfast in their commitment to restoring security and stability in Haiti dismissed the lack of operational capability reports, terming the claims as false and unpatriotic. 

The service highlighted that before deployment, the officers underwent rigorous training, covering a wide range of critical areas, adding that the comprehensive preparation fully equipped them for the mission.

This included firearms proficiency, public order management, international human rights and humanitarian law, fundamental principles of peacekeeping, and French language training.

Also Read: Fresh Details of Kenyan Officer who Went Missing in Haiti Emerge

NPS Dismisses lack of capacity claims on Haiti mission

Also, NPS said that the officers have been provided with tactical vehicles (including MRAPs), ballistic helmets, bulletproof vests, ammunition in sufficient quantities, as well as helicopters, night-vision goggles, and drones, all of which meet international standards.

“With a distinguished record in international policing and peace support operations, Kenya’s National Police Service continues to demonstrate exceptional capability and professionalism in executing this mission, a fact widely acknowledged in Haiti and beyond, despite challenges inherent in such security operations,” said NPS.

“The Kenya-led MSS Mission and the Haitian National Police have intensified joint operations to reduce crime and violence, fostering a more secure environment. This marks a significant milestone in Haiti’s path to stability, despite the persistent threats posed by armed gangs.”

The clarification comes following media reports questioning the operational capability of Kenyan police officers serving under the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti.

Kenya has so far deployed over 800 police officers to restore peace in the Carribean nation. 

Guatemala, El Salvador, Jamaica, and Belize have also deployed their troops in the country to work alongside Kenyan officer.

Deaths, missing officer, injuries 

Between February and March, one officer from Kenya has been confirmed dead while another is reportedly missing.

The first officer, Samuel Tompoi Kaetuai, was fatally shot on February 23, by gangs in the Savien region of Haiti during a shootout. 

The second officer, Benedict Kabiru, went missing on March 25, following a gang ambush in Pont-Sondé, located in the Artibonite region. 

On Monday, April 7, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said two other police officers have been injured during the mission and are recovering well. 

“The officers who have gone to Haiti are accountable by number. We lost an officer, and we feel very sad in the circumstances under which we lost him; one officer is still missing, but the search is still ongoing to make sure that we find him. We also have two officers who got injured, but they are recuperating well,” he said.

US pledges support for Kenya-led MSS mission 

Earlier in the week, the United States Government announced support for the Kenyan-led MSS mission in Haiti. 

Also Read: Trump Offers Support to Kenya’s Mission in Haiti

The U.S Department of State Spokesperson Tammy Bruce in a statement emphasized the US government’s support for efforts to restore peace and stability in Haiti. 

Bruce also said the U.S government will continue holding discussions with other governments across the region.

“The United States supports the efforts by the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support Mission and CARICOM to assist the government in its efforts to bring peace and stability to Haiti in the face of armed criminal gangs. The United States continues to consult with governments across the region,” read the statement in part. 

At the same time, the U.S Department of State Spokesperson condemned actions by gangs to destabilize Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council. 

The Haitian Transitional Presidential Council which works alongside Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime is currently headed by Leslie Voltaire, who was appointed to the position in October 2024.

The council is responsible for helping run the country and organizing general elections by February 2026.

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