Kenya sends more officers to Haïti to combat rising gang violences

Kenya has deployed an additional 217 police officers to Haiti on January 18 as part of an ongoing Multinational force to tackle escalating gang violence. This follows Kenya’s initial deployment of troops to Haiti in June 2024, and the total number of Kenyan officers now exceeds 600.

The deployment is part of a broader United Nations-backed mission aimed at stabilising the Caribbean nation.

Kenya’s Interior Minister, Kipchumba Murkomen, confirmed the new contingent of officers left on Friday, stating that the Kenya-led mission has made significant progress in curbing gang violence, which has plagued Haiti for years. Murkomen reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to the mission, noting that President William Ruto has pledged to send up to 1,000 troops to support the operation.

Gang violence in Haiti has left over 700,000 people homeless, with thousands of Haitians living in dire conditions after their homes were destroyed. In 2024 alone, more than 5,600 people were killed, and the situation has worsened, with killings increasing by over 20% compared to the previous year. The United Nations continues to monitor the crisis, as Haiti struggles to control the rampant violence.