Kenyan Police Officers in Haiti Still Await Deployment Allowances

In a developing story, Kenyan police officers deployed to Haiti for a multinational mission to support the Haitian Police in its fight against gangs are yet to receive their deployment allowances. The officers, who arrived in Haiti two months ago, are struggling to make ends meet, with families unable to send their children to school due to the lack of pay.

According to reports by The Nation, a leading Kenyan newspaper, about 400 Kenyan officers were deployed to Haiti for the mission, which is supported by the United Nations (UN) but not managed by it. The UN established a trust fund, facilitated voluntarily by donor countries, to support the mission.

The main contributors to the trust fund are Canada, France, and the United States of America. In an interview with Citizen TV, the US Ambassador to Kenya expressed concern over the pay delay, stating that the officers will be remunerated by Friday, August 30.

The Kenya National Police Service has also assured that it is working to ensure continued support to its deployed officers, who have reportedly drawn their Kenyan salaries. The US pledged $100 million to the mission last September.

The situation has sparked concerns about the welfare of the Kenyan officers and their families, who are struggling to cope with the financial strain. The Kenyan government and the UN are working to resolve the issue, with the US Ambassador’s statement offering a glimmer of hope for the officers.

Additional sources: Daily Nation – Citizen Kenya