Haiti PM Garry Conille visits Kenyan police officers set for deployment in Embakasi

As Kenya prepares to deploy the second batch of 600 police officers to Haiti to join the multinational police mission, visiting Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille has appealed for more financial commitment to fund the mission.

During a tour of the Administration Police Training College in Embakasi on Saturday, Conille highlighted Kenya’s invaluable role in leading the mission, which, despite its significance, is still far from restoring order in Haiti amid a worsening humanitarian crisis.

He sought to engage with the leadership of the National Police Service (NPS) regarding the operation Kenya is leading in his homeland.

“We have additional officers right now, all drawn from the National Police Service who have been prepared since their pre-deployment training, in readiness to support their brothers and sisters in Haiti,” Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja said.

PM Conille provided a sobering assessment of the situation in Haiti, stressing the need for international intervention.

“Haiti is facing one of its worst times. Eighty per cent of the capital is controlled by gangs, about 5 per cent of the population can no longer go home, half the population is food insecure, 70 per cent of the healthcare system has collapsed, women are raped, and the situation poses both security and humanitarian threats,” he stated.

Despite expressing gratitude for Kenya’s vital contribution, PM Conille noted the severe underfunding of the mission.

“The frustration is not only with the financing of the mission but also with the level of resources needed to support it. This is insignificant in comparison to other missions across the world. This is to remind the world that the Haitian people are not less deserving,” he added.

At State House on Friday, President William Ruto and Prime Minister Conille both acknowledged the financial challenges facing the mission.

During their meeting, they appealed for additional financial assistance, especially after the UN Security Council extended the mission’s mandate.

Kenya first deployed its police to Haiti in July, and with the upcoming deployment of 600 officers, the total number of Kenyan police officers on the ground will rise to 1,000.

Nairobi is leading a mission that also includes contingents from The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Chad, and Jamaica.

Conille’s predecessor, Ariel Henry, faced immense challenges during his term, and his inability to land in Port-au-Prince solidified Conille’s rise as Prime Minister.

Like his predecessors, Conille faces the daunting task of rebuilding a nation and a people on the brink of collapse.