On January 19, 2025, a new contingent of 217 Kenyan police officers, including 30 female officers, arrived in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, to join the ongoing efforts to combat rampant gang violence. This deployment is part of the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS), a United Nations-backed initiative aimed at restoring peace and stability in the Caribbean nation.
The officers were escorted by the U.S. military due to threats from gang violence, which has led to the closure of Port-au-Prince’s airport. Upon arrival, the Kenyan officers were warmly received by a delegation that included Haitian government officials and representatives from the Multinational Security Support Mission. The new arrivals join 400 of their compatriots already on the ground, bringing the total number of foreign security personnel to nearly 800.
Kenyan Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen expressed gratitude to the Haitian government for its close bilateral relations with Kenya and announced plans to open a Kenyan consulate in Haiti to strengthen these ties. The mission continues to gain momentum, with the graduation of 739 Haitian police officers from a recent training program.
The presence of Kenyan police officers in Haiti is a testament to the international community’s resolve to address the escalating violence and provide much-needed support to the Haitian people.
