Kenya to Deploy Additional 600 Police Officers to Haiti in UN-Backed Anti-Gang Mission – The East Observer

Kenya is set to send an extra 600 police officers to Haiti by early November as part of a UN-backed mission aimed at curbing rampant gang violence in the Caribbean nation, Kenya’s police chief announced on Saturday. This comes after President William Ruto pledged additional support following a meeting with Haiti’s interim Prime Minister Garry Conille in Nairobi.

Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja confirmed that the officers are currently undergoing pre-deployment training and will join the 400 Kenyan police already stationed in Haiti. “The officers will be ready for departure early next month,” Kanja said, addressing concerns at a media briefing alongside Conille.

Kenya leads the multinational mission in Haiti, where escalating insecurity has claimed over 3,600 lives this year. While addressing issues regarding delayed salary payments for officers already deployed, Kanja assured that the matter has been resolved.

President Ruto has called on the international community to urgently provide more support to the mission, which has been hampered by a lack of funding. Conille echoed this appeal, as Haiti continues to face spiraling violence, with the latest gang attack in Ponte Sonde leaving 109 dead and dozens injured.

The UN Security Council extended the mission for another year, though it remains a policing mission rather than a full peacekeeping force as previously suggested.