The Inspector General (IG) of the National Police Service (NPS), Japhet Koome, has provided an update on the status of the Kenyan police officers deployed to Haiti.
In a statement dated July 6, Koome stated that Kenya completed the pre-deployment training for the first contingent of 400 officers to the Haiti mission and flagged off the first batch of 200 officers on June 24, 2024.
The officers arrived in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on June 25, 2024, and embarked on joint operational, logistical, and induction training with their Haitian National Police counterparts.
The IG explained that the Prime Minister of Haiti, Garry Conille, officially welcomed the Kenyan team at their base camp and expressed his unwavering support for the multinational security support (MSS) mission.
Koome revealed that Conille asked for the deployment of more Kenyan police, stating that the MSS will suppress the gangs terrorizing the country.
“During the security brief to the UN Security Council this week, the Prime Minister called for the deployment of additional Kenyan police officers in Haiti, expressing his optimism that the MSS team will control the gangs,” Koome said.
Additionally, Koome noted that Maria Isabel Salvador, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti, commended Kenya for accepting the leadership of the mission.
Salvador also called upon the international community to make their financial contributions to the mission.
The IG further thanked the people of Haiti for their warm reception and support extended to the Kenyan officers.
“The NPS remains committed to discharging its national and international duties with utmost respect for the rule of law,” Koome said.
Also Read: Questions as Photos Show Kenyan Police Guarding US Embassy in Haiti
Koome Dismisses Death Reports
The update comes a week after Koome dismissed claims that seven Kenyan police officers had been killed in Haiti.
Koome explained that the officers were all safe and ready to discharge their duty of helping restore peace in the Caribbean nation.
“The attention of this office has been drawn to the unfounded, false, unpatriotic, and malicious claims circulating on social media that seven National Police Service officers have been killed in Haiti,” Koome said.
“We wish to clarify to the public that our officers left Kenya on June 24, 2024, and were not only received warmly by the great people of Haiti on arrival but are also all safe and ready to discharge their clear and specific mandate.”
The IG said the NPS officers had undertaken strategic mapping of the key areas of operational concern and conducted several joint patrols within Port-au-Prince while working closely with the Haitian National Police.
Also Read: I’m Not Here for Girls- Kenyan Cop Speaks Outside US Embassy in Haiti
Haiti Gang Leader Message to Kenya Police
However, Haiti gang leader, Jimmy Chérizier, alias “Barbecue,” had declared that he would consider the Kenyan Police as aggressors.
He accused the NPS officers of interfering with the independence of Haiti and vowed to resist them.
“If Kenyan military or police come, whatsoever, I will consider them, aggressors. We will consider them as invaders and we do not have to collaborate with any invaders that have come to walk over our independence,” Barbecue stated.
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