The Kenya-led Multinational Security Support Mission (MSSM) in Haiti has received reassurance of continued funding and operational support.
This follows a recent decision by the United States (US) to pause its contributions to the UN Trust Fund for the mission.
In a Press Release, dated Wednesday, February 5, the office of the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs has indicated that the mission will go on.
The withdrawal of US funds has raised concern that the move could jeopardize the mission’s future, however, Kenya, alongside other participating countries, has been assured that sufficient resources will be available to sustain the peacekeeping operations in Haiti.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi's Ministry, in reassurance, stated “Indeed it is true that the U.S. contribution to the UN Trust Fund for MSS Haiti was recently paused as communicated by the UN Secretary General’s office. Notably, the pause will affect about Ksh129 million ($15M) in support of the MSS mission,”.
The ministry stated that the funds at hand would be able to support the mission until the end of September 2025.
“While a portion of the undisbursed US contribution amounting to $15 million has been temporarily held due to the US presidential directive, the Fund remains well-resourced to support the mission until the end of September 2025.”
According to the ministry’s Cs Musalia Mudavadi, Ksh14.7 Trillion ($110 million) in funding is now secured from a group of donor nations to maintain the mission’s operations.
According to the Ministry, Kenya and its partners remain fully committed to ensuring the mission transitions to a full UN-led operation to guarantee its long-term financial sustainability and security mandate.
US has been the biggest financial supporter of the Kenyan-led peace mission in Haiti which was launched in June 2024.
UN secretary-general's spokesperson Stephane Dujarric while speaking on Tuesday said the move by the US Government would stop $13.3 million (Ksh 1.7 billion) in pending aid.
“We received an official notification from the US asking for an immediate stop work order on their contribution to the multinational security support force,” said Dujarric.
He noted that the UN would wait for further guidance from the US government regarding its contribution.
U.S had committed to contribute $15 million (Ksh 1.9 billion) to the trust fund that helps finance the multinational force with $1.7 million (Ksh 219 million) of that already spent.
The freezing of the funding comes days after President William Ruto said that US President Donald Trump would support the Haiti mission.
“I am very proud that even President Trump, under the new administration, supports Kenya’s mission in Haiti to help the men, women, and children of that nation experience peace and stability so they, too, can achieve what other nations have,” said Ruto on January 26.
Kenya has so far deployed 600 police officers in Haiti. The first contingent of 400 officers was sent in June 2024 with an additional 200 officers being deployed in January 2025 to help combat violent gangs in the Caribbean nation.
Guatemala, El Salvador, Jamaica, and Belize have also deployed their officers to the peace mission in Haiti.
