While the Kenyan government announced imminent deployment of police officers to combat rampant gang violence in the Haitian capital, concerns about escalating insecurity and funding shortfalls cloud the mission's prospects.
Kenya pledged to lead the mission last July. However, the High Court initially blocked the deployment as unlawful.
This obstacle has been cleared with a newly signed agreement between Kenya and Haiti on March 1. However, the situation on the ground in Haiti remains volatile.
Prime Minister Henry, who signed the agreement in Kenya, was unable to return to Haiti due to the worsening violence and announced his resignation on Tuesday.
This volatile situation adds to the uncertainty surrounding the mission.
While the US and other major powers are pushing for swift deployment of Kenyan officers – seen as a catalyst for further contributions from other African and Caribbean nations – logistical and financial concerns remain.
Notably, this marks the first large-scale deployment of Kenyan police officers abroad, raising questions about their preparedness for the challenges they might face.
Despite the United States pledging $300 million to support the international security mission in Haiti, only a fraction (less than $11 million as of Monday) has reached the UN trust fund, according to sources. This delay in funding adds to the growing doubts surrounding the mission's viability.
Kenya has requested upfront payment for its deployment costs although UN rules dictate only reimbursement of expenses incurred.
About $100 million in US Defense Department funding will not go through the UN and could be used for logistics and equipment, but its ability to cover all Kenyan requests is unclear.
Pre-deployment challenges:
- While Kenya considers itself in the pre-deployment stage, legal uncertainties persist.
- Opposition politicians have challenged the government's right to send troops due to a lack of a "reciprocal agreement" with Haiti.
- A recent court ruling in Kenya raised concerns about the mission's legality, prompting a potential new legal battle.
Escalating violence fuels doubts:
- The recent surge in violence, including attacks on the airport and prison breaks, has deepened concerns in Kenya about the mission's safety and effectiveness.
- Opposition figures have used the violence to further criticise the mission, portraying it as too dangerous and lacking clear national benefit.
A senior police officer, who has been at the centre of the Kenyan adventure, told the Star that the team's mission was planned fully aware that the situation would escalate.
Hundreds of police officers, who have been trained for the mission, have been placed on standby and can be flown to Port-au-Prince at short notice.
“They (police officers) are ready and can leave anytime when an order is issued,” an officer who asked not to be named said.
The deployment was not conditional and Henry's quitting office does not drastically change the plans of the police to help stabilise strife-torn Haiti.
“The operation manuals for the team have been shared among all concerned senior police commanders. Deputy Inspector General (Noor) Gabow and GSU commandant (Eliud) Lagat are always working and consulting the Haiti team just to ensure they are deployment ready and that they comply with the conditions,” another senior police officer told the Star.
President William Ruto, the source said, has been kept in the picture on almost daily basis, especially with the escalating law and order situation in Haiti.
Kenya, which will lead the team to combat the gangs, plans to deploy more than 1,000 officers to Haiti.
The teams are from the Rapid Deployment Unit, Anti Stock Theft Unit, General Service Unit and Border Patrol Unit.
Kenya's combat-trained team officials maintain they can handle the situation.
The 1000-strong team ended their months of rigorous training on January 4.
The resignation of Henry follows weeks of mounting pressure and increasing violence.
It came after regional leaders met in Jamaica on Monday to discuss a political transition.
Henry is currently stranded in Puerto Rico after being prevented by armed gangs from returning home. He led the country since the president's assassination in July 2021.
Speaking following the meeting in Kingston, Caribbean Community chairperson and Guyana President Irfaan Ali said: "We acknowledge his resignation upon the establishment of a transitional presidential council and naming of an interim prime minister."
Heavily armed gangs have controlled the streets of Port-au-Prince in recent days, demanding the resignation of the unelected prime minister.
Henry was in Kenya on March 1 to sign a deal on the deployment of an international security force to help tackle violence when a coalition of gangs attacked police stations and stormed two of Haiti's largest prisons.
A plane carrying Henry was stopped from landing following sustained attacks at the international airport.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki Monday disclosed that the Kenyan-led Haiti Mission is in the pre-deployment stage.
This means the team is on standby mode and all they are waiting for are logistics to move.
“We are set and all we need now are the logistics to enable the movement of say 400 officers,” an officer said.
US President Joe Biden made a pledge on September 23 to cover logistics, intelligence, communication and medical support for Kenyan troops.
Ruto told US officials that the Kenyan team could be ready to leave within 72 hours, according to the Miami Herald.
This declaration came after the signing of a bilateral agreement between Kenya and Haiti.
The White House, while counting on Kenya's commitment, rules out any deployment of American forces, pledging to accelerate the multinational support mission.
Kindiki said Monday the plans to deploy the more than 1,000 police officers were ongoing.
The signing of the reciprocal agreement between Kenya and Haiti on March 1 as required by the court set the stage for the deployment.
“There was a small court matter, which has been resolved. The court said we needed to have a reciprocal agreement with Haiti. That reciprocal agreement was signed more than a week ago,” Kindiki said.
All the other programmes related to the deployment are in place, including the Status of Forces Agreement and the laws on detention, arrests, and other enforcement measures.
Kindiki said the Standard Operation Procedures that will guide how the multinational security support mission will be handled have also been finalised.
Kenyan police officers will be part of a larger security force tasked with restoring order in Haiti.
“Kenya is a lead nation but there are so many countries that have pledged to contribute troops and this came from the mandate of the United Nations Security Council and is part of our international obligations,” the CS said.
The US State Department on Sunday flew marines to reinforce its embassy and evacuate non-essential personnel.
“This airlift of personnel into and out of the embassy is consistent with our standard practice for embassy security augmentation worldwide, and no Haitians were on board the military aircraft,” the department said.
The airlift came amid ongoing gang attacks in multiple locations around metropolitan Port-au-Prince, including Tabarre where the US embassy is located.
Several nearby businesses have been looted and overtaken by armed gangs that control more than 80 per cent of the capital.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Ruto on Saturday to discuss the ongoing political and security crisis.
They underscored unwavering commitment to the deployment of a multinational security mission to support the Haitian national police in creating the security conditions necessary to conduct free and fair elections.
Since last Thursday, armed groups have led a coordinated attack, demanding the resignation of Henry and targeting key government institutions.
After taking control of several police stations, they targeted the main seaport before orchestrating a mass prison break at the two largest prisons.
Thousands of inmates were freed, including several notorious gang leaders.
The gangs have also launched attacks against the international and domestic airports.
Heavy gunfire around the airports has led to the suspension of international flights.
Soldiers have been deployed to defend several of airports, including the Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince and the city's police academy.
According to the United Nations, some 15,000 people have been displaced in the latest flare up in violence.
Henry was sworn in, unelected, after Haiti's President, Jovenel Moïse, was assassinated in 2021 by Colombian mercenaries.
Under a political deal, Haiti was supposed to hold elections and Henry cede power by February 7, but that did not happen.
This sparked protests as thousands took to the streets to demand he stick to the plan.
Henry asked the international community to send troops to help fight the gangs but so far, none have arrived.
In October, the United Nations approved a Multinational Security Support Mission for Haiti.
FACT FILE ON HAITI
Haiti: The basics·
The Caribbean country shares a border with the Dominican Republic and has an estimated population of 11.5 million
· It has a land area of 27,800 sq km, which is slightly smaller than Belgium and about the same size as the US state of Maryland
· Chronic instability, dictatorships and natural disasters in recent decades have left Haiti the poorest nation in the Americas
·An earthquake in 2010 killed more than 200,000 people and caused extensive damage to infrastructure and the economy
·A UN peacekeeping force was put in place in 2004 to help stabilise the country and only withdrew in 2017
·In July 2021, President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated by unidentified gunmen in Port-au-Prince
. Amid political stalemate, the country continues to be wracked by unrest and gang violence.
.Kenya will lead multi national security team to the country in efforts to restore peace.
.In 2023 Kenyan teams visited Haiti twice on a fact finding mission. . In December 2023, a Haitian team visited Nairobi on a fact finding mission.
.In January 2024, a court in Nairobi stopped the planned deployment of the police Haiti.
.In February teams from Kenya and Haiti met in Washington DC to finalize on an MOU to be signed by the two countries as ordered by the court.
. In March 1, Henry and Ruto witnessed the signing of the MoU in Nairobi.
