600 more Kenyan policemen prepare to combat gang violence in Haiti

Following a visit from Garry Conille, the Haitian Prime Minister to Kenya a week ago, the president of Kenya, Willam Ruto announced on Friday that he would be sending 600 Kenyan policemen to Haiti by next month.

A Haitian mayor claimed that last week, members of the Gran Grif gang carried out one of the worst massacres in the nation’s recent memory, murdering at least 115 people in an agricultural area.

The Kenyan president Ruto referred to the mission as “the battle that we can win” and told reporters that the 600 officers intended for deployment are currently undergoing training.

Additionally, Reuters reported that around 10 countries have promised to deploy a combined 2,900 troops to Haiti to participate in the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support (MSS).

However, only 430 security officials have been stationed in Haiti, with Kenya constituting by far the largest quota at 400.

During the Haitian prime minister’s visit, he commended Kenya’s efforts, noting that the police response to the recent massacre was swift.

“The police and the (Kenyan) contingent were able to deploy by road within – really, virtually – hours to make sure that the city in question was quickly protected,” the prime minister said.

In July 2023, Kenyan President William Ruto offered to send 1000 troops to the Caribbean island to assist create law and order. Kenya deployed its first group of 400 security policemen in June 2024.

In light of this, two dozen Jamaican military and police officers landed in Haiti to join the peacekeeping operation.

According to the Belizean administration, two senior military commanders joined the Jamaicans.

Kenya was the first nation to send soldiers as part of a larger U.N. commitment to give foreign support to Haiti, which has plunged into violence and political turmoil since President Jovenel Moïse’s death in 2021.

This was accomplished despite widespread skepticism, several delays owing to legal challenges, and deteriorating security situations in Haiti.