Struggles Amid Promise: Kenyan Police Face Challenges in Haiti Mission

Kenyan police officers deployed to Haiti are grappling with pay issues, equipment shortages, and low morale as they attempt to combat heavily armed gangs. Despite the U.N.-sanctioned Multinational Security Support mission and assistance from international allies, progress has been hindered by financial shortfalls and logistical delays.

Kenyan police officers deployed to Haiti are grappling with pay issues and equipment shortages, which have sapped their morale and hampered their capacity to confront heavily armed gangs, according to four officers who spoke to Reuters.

Following three years of escalating violence by gangs controlling Port-au-Prince, Haiti's transitional government and its international allies hope that a Kenyan-led mission will restore enough security to hold elections by February 2026. However, the U.N.-approved Multinational Security Support mission has faced delays due to political turmoil and funding challenges.

From an initial deployment in late June, 200 Kenyan officers were joined by a similar contingent three weeks later, aiming to eventually reach 2,500 personnel from at least 10 countries. Despite U.S. contributions of $369 million, financial shortfalls persist, straining the mission. Officers report limited resources and inadequate equipment, such as lack of armored platforms and radio systems, which impact their effectiveness in engaging gang members. Additional issues, including uncertainties about pay, continue to weigh heavily on morale.

(With inputs from agencies.)