'Kenya police received warmly in Haiti,' IG Koome says in mission update

Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome has issued an update on the Kenyan mission to Haiti almost two weeks after the first batch of 200 officers arrived in the Caribbean nation.

IG Koome, in a statement released on Saturday, stated that the officers, who left Kenya on July 24, were warmly received by the country’s citizens as well as their law enforcement counterparts.

“The team arrived in Port-au-Prince Haiti on 25 June 2024 and embarked on joint operational, logistical and induction training with their Haitian National Police counterparts,” he stated.

“As a Service, we want to thank the people of Haiti for their warm reception and support extended to the Kenyan officers.”

The IG went further to note that Haiti;s Prime Minister has since requested for the deployment of the second batch of Kenyan troops in the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, expressing support in its success.

Koome also noted that a representative of the United Nations Secretary General for Haiti has since also urged the international community to financial support the Kenyan-led peace mission.

“The Prime Minister of Haiti, Garry Conille, while officially welcoming the Kenyan team at their base camp expressed his unwavering support for the MSS. During the security brief to the UN Security Council this week, the Prime Minister called for the deployment of additional Kenyan police officers in Haiti, expressing his optimism that MSS team will control the gangs,” added Koome.

“Equally, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti, Maria Isabel Salvador commended Kenya for accepting to lead the Mission, and called upon the international community to make their financial contributions to the Mission.”