In Photos: Arrival Of The 3rd Contingent of Kenyan Police In Haiti

third contingent of over 200 police officers from Kenya arrived Saturday in Haiti for the United Nations-backed peace mission to battle violent gangs that have taken over parts of the troubled Caribbean country.

The Deputy National Security Advisor Joseph Boinnet, Deputy Inspector General of Administration Police Gilbert Masengeli and the commandant of General Service Unit Ranson Lolmodooni accompanied police officers.

Top security officials who accompanied the officers to Haiti.

The team includes 30 female police officers who arrived in Port-au-Prince on Saturday aboard a chartered airplane escorted by the U.S. military.

The 217 officers will bolster the efforts of the first and second contingents, totalling 400 officers, who were deployed last year to help restore stability

The elite officers drawn from NPS formations and units are mandated to protect civilians, uphold public order, and assist in the reform and fortification of regional law enforcement organizations.

They will be accountable for patrolling, community policing, and training and supervising Haitian law enforcement personnel.

The contingent was warmly received at the airport by a distinguished delegation, including Presidential Advisor Fritz Alphonse Jean, Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, Minister of Justice and Public Security Patrick Pélissier, Secretary of State for Public Security Mario Andrésol, Haitian Police Director General Normil Rameau, Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) Force Commander Godfrey Otunge, U.S. Ambassador Dennis B.

Hankins, and Canadian Ambassador André François Giroux.

President Wiliam Ruto had promised in September 2024 to deploy to Haiti before the end of the year.

But the effort was stalled after Democrats lost the U.S. presidential election in November and Haiti’s ruling council days later replaced the prime minister after less than six months.

Both moves created uncertainty for Ruto, who had also expressed worries about the mission’s lack of resources, including funding and equipment, as it struggled to help Haitian police take down armed gangs.

Ruto’s uncertainties about the mission’s fate seems to have been put to rest, at last for now, following last week’s comments from President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of state.

During his Senate confirmation hearing, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio lauded Kenya for its leadership of the Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti, and signaled continued U.S. support.

Rubio’s comments were immediately noticed and on Saturday at 2 a.m.

MSSM in Haiti was authorised by the UN Security Council on October 2, 2023, under Resolution 2699 to assist Haitian National Police in combating gang violence and restoring stability in Haiti.