Nairobi, Kenya – The deployment of Kenyan police officers to Haiti has been delayed as officials cite incomplete preparations on the ground. The advance team, which was sent to assess readiness for the mission, has reported that essential infrastructure and resources are not yet in place.
Initially scheduled to start this week, the deployment of the first 200 officers has been postponed for three weeks, as announced by President William Ruto. The bases in Haiti are still under construction, and crucial resources, including vehicles, are needed before the deployment can proceed.
A senior Kenyan official, speaking on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the base where the police will operate is only about 70% complete. Additionally, there is a pressing need for secure storage facilities for armory. “The bases are still under construction and crucial resources including vehicles are needed before deployment of the first 200 police officers from Kenya can take place,” the official stated.
The advance team arrived in Haiti on Tuesday, held meetings with Haitian police on Thursday, and met with the transitional presidential council on Friday. Despite the delays, the Kenyan contingent remains committed to the mission.
During President Ruto’s recent state visit to the United States, President Joe Biden expressed deep appreciation for Kenya’s commitment to aid in quelling gang violence in Haiti. The United States has pledged $300 million to support a multinational force that will include 1,000 Kenyan police officers as well as personnel from Jamaica, the Bahamas, Antigua and Barbuda, and other countries.
Haiti has long struggled with poverty, political instability, and natural disasters. International intervention in the country has a complicated history, marked by a U.N. stabilization mission that began in June 2004. This mission was marred by a sexual abuse scandal and a cholera outbreak, which claimed nearly 10,000 lives, and ended in October 2017.
Kenyan officials have emphasized that the safety and effectiveness of their mission are paramount and that they will return to Haiti once the necessary infrastructure and resources are in place. The advance team is scheduled to return to Kenya on Monday.
