A third contingent of Kenyan police arrived in Haiti on Thursday, joining over 600 Kenyan officers already deployed to assist the Haitian National Police in combating violent gangs. The deployment comes amidst concerns over the suspension of a portion of US funding for the UN-backed mission.
The 200 officers from the East African nation join the existing Kenyan force, along with personnel from Jamaica, Guatemala, and El Salvador, as part of a strengthened multinational force. The deployment follows a US notification to the UN on Tuesday that it would freeze $13.3 million in funding for the mission as part of a broader suspension of foreign aid imposed by US President Donald Trump.
Godfrey Otunge, the mission force commander, stated on Wednesday that the frozen amount represents less than 3% of ongoing assistance to the mission. He assured the Haitian people that the mission remains operational, with continued logistical, financial, and equipment support from the US and other partner nations. The US State Department has approved $40.7 million in foreign assistance waivers to support the mission and the Haitian police, including contracts for operational bases, medical services, and vehicle maintenance. The US also delivered “much-needed heavy armored equipment” to the mission and Haitian police on Tuesday.
UN Special Rapporteur on Haiti, William O’Neill, emphasized the mission’s crucial role in assisting local police in establishing security. He highlighted the Haitian National Police’s outmaneuvering by gangs in terms of numbers and weaponry, urging consistent and predictable funding for the mission, particularly from regional states. He stressed that increased stability in Haiti would reduce migration pressures, benefiting all involved.
The mission, launched last year, faces challenges due to funding and personnel shortages, while gangs controlling 85% of Port-au-Prince, the capital, continue to expand their territory. A week-long attack in an upscale community near the capital has resulted in the deaths of approximately 150 people, according to Marie Yolène Gilles of the non-profit Fondasyon Je Klere. The attack in Kenscoff, which began on January 27, has displaced over 1,660 people, according to the International Organization for Migration.