Kenya sends additional offices to Haiti

(MENAFN) Kenya has dispatched another group of 230 police personnel to Haiti, officials announced Tuesday, marking the fifth rotation sent to bolster the country’s internationally supported security operation.

The newly deployed officers arrived in Port-au-Prince on Monday night, signaling Nairobi’s intensified participation in efforts to stabilize Haiti amid escalating gang violence. According to officials, this latest group was mobilized after the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) received an expanded mandate earlier in October.

The reinforcement includes several specialized units expected to strengthen joint missions with the Haitian National Police (PNH), which continues to face severe limitations in countering armed groups that have seized control over wide areas of the capital.

During a ceremony at Toussaint Louverture International Airport, GSF Force Commander Godfrey Otunge emphasized Kenya’s sustained engagement in the mission. “Kenya stands with Haiti, for as long as it takes, until peace prevails,” he said, stressing that the deployment aligns with the mandate broadened on Oct. 3, 2025.
Otunge noted that the contingent will support ongoing initiatives aimed at reopening key routes, ensuring the safe movement of humanitarian aid, and reinforcing PNH-led efforts to safeguard civilians.

Haitian authorities praised the new arrivals, saying the support comes at a critical time as relentless violence continues to paralyze essential services and force thousands to flee their homes.

Kenyan officials indicated that additional deployments are scheduled in the coming weeks, forming part of a gradual rollout designed in coordination with the UN and partner nations.

Kenya, which took on leadership of the multinational mission in 2024, has reiterated its long-term commitment despite earlier political and legal debates within the country.

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