PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — A new group of 200 Kenyan police officers has arrived in Haiti as part of efforts to combat escalating gang violence. This deployment marks the fourth team from Kenya, contributing to a growing multinational force that includes over 600 Kenyan officers already assisting Haiti’s National Police. Additional support comes from various countries, including Jamaica, Guatemala, and El Salvador.
The mission’s force commander, Godfrey Otunge, emphasized the importance of this reinforcement as he welcomed the new officers at the main international airport in Haiti. The airport remains shuttered to commercial air traffic due to the persistent threat from gangs.
In a recent development, the U.S. government informed the United Nations that it has frozen $13.3 million in funding originally earmarked for the mission due to a broader cutback on foreign assistance ordered by President Donald Trump. Otunge assured that this sum represents a small fraction—less than 3%—of the total support that still flows into the mission.
“I want to reassure everyone, particularly the citizens of Haiti, that our mission is progressing as planned,” Otunge stated, highlighting that logistical, financial, and equipment support continues to arrive from the U.S. and other ally nations almost daily.
According to the U.S. State Department, waivers have been granted for $40.7 million in foreign aid aimed at bolstering the mission and Haitian police. This assistance includes contracts that facilitate the operation of forward bases, medical services, and vehicle maintenance.
On Tuesday, the U.S. also dispatched significant armored equipment to support the mission, which is critical amidst the national security challenges facing Haiti. Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé acknowledged this support, pointing out the delivery of promised equipment crucial for enhancing safety in the region.
William O’Neill, a U.N. expert on Haiti, commented on the vital role of the mission in aiding local police to restore order. He noted that the gangs outnumber and overpower the Haitian National Police, creating a dire need for consistent funding and contributions from regional states to strengthen stability. “Increased stability in Haiti could alleviate the driving forces behind migration, which would benefit everyone involved,” he added.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently expressed gratitude to Kenyan President William Ruto for his country’s leadership in the ongoing mission in Haiti and for its contributions to peace efforts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Since its inception last year, the mission has faced significant hurdles due to limited funding and personnel, while gangs are reported to control approximately 85% of Port-au-Prince. A violent surge in an affluent neighborhood near the capital has reportedly claimed around 150 lives, according to Marie Yolène Gilles from the nonprofit Fondasyon Je Klere. She also mentioned that over 100 homes were destroyed during these attacks.
The violence began on January 27 in Kenscoff and has rendered more than 1,660 individuals homeless, as reported by the International Organization for Migration.
