Kenya sent an additional 217 police officers to Haiti to bolster a multinational force seeking to restore order to the Caribbean island.
The Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) under UN auspices, will receive an extra boost, following the deployment of 400 officers in June last year.
Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen, speaking on Friday 17, 2025 as he saw off the officers, said in a statement that the security agencies have made laudable progress.
"The 217 officers will reinforce the first batch of 400 officers who were deployed last year to the Caribbean nation to restore peace," he noted.
"The Kenya-led mission has made tremendous progress in reducing gang violence, earning praise across the globe, including from both the outgoing and incoming US administrations," he added.
This week, United States President Donald Trump’s pick for Secretary of State position Marco Rubio from Florida, praised various troops on a mission in Haiti, including Kenyan forces under the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS), for their courage and commitment to their duties despite challenges such as being outgunned and outnumbered in the line of duty.
While addressing a forum in the US, Rubio acknowledged the efforts of the Kenyan troops, stating they have done their best to restore order despite facing significant challenges.
“The Kenyans deserve a lot of credit for being willing to take on that mission. In recent days, troops from various other countries have also arrived,” Rubio said.
The mission’s goal is to help the Haitian government restore law and order amidst ongoing civil unrest and gang violence.
By late 2024, the UN Security Council extended the mission for another year. There is ongoing debate about potentially converting it into a full UN peacekeeping mission for more stable funding and broader support, although Russia and China have opposed this change.
The first group of Kenyan security forces arrived in Haiti on June 25, 2024. Despite this, the mission has faced challenges, such as being understaffed and underfunded.
On September 26, President William Ruto assured the international community that Kenya would remain committed to combating criminal gangs in Haiti.
During his speech at the UN General Assembly in New York, Ruto confirmed that Kenya would deploy police officers as part of the 2,500 MSS officers required in the Caribbean before January 2025.
“I must emphasize that Kenya will deploy the additional contingent towards attaining the target of all 2,500 police officers by January next year. The progress so far in Haiti demonstrates that what once deemed mission impossible is indeed a present and undeniable possibility,” said President Ruto at the time.
Recently, the mission received reinforcements from Guatemala and El Salvador.
