Kenya sends another 200 police to fight gangs in Haiti

Some 10 countries have together pledged over 3,100 troops for Haiti as part of a U.N.-backed anti-gang force, but few have so far deployed.

Kenya's Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen said the new group comprised 217 police from Kenya, who would join about 400 officers sent last year.

"Our commitment to this historic mission is unwavering and we will continue to mobilise all the necessary international support for it to succeed," he said in a social media post.

While receiving the troops, Haitian President Fritz Alphonse Jean thanked Kenya for their unwavering support in fighting gang insurgence in the nation, affirming that the Caribbean nation will ensure the soldiers remain safe.

"We want to welcome our brothers from Kenya. The (other) Kenyan troops are fighting hard and these are challenging times and in challenging times we need friends like you," he said.

On his part, Kenya's Deputy Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli urged the officers to remain vigilant and help the war-torn nation regain peace.

"Since the deployment of the first contingent the officers have executed successful operations against gangs. I encourage the officers to maintain the set level of excellence as they work towards fulfilling their mandate," he said.

Kenya has led the effort to staff the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, originally promising to deploy a total of 1,000 people.

However, Reuters reported last month that nearly 20 people in the initial deployment submitted letters of resignation from the anti-gang mission due to pay delays and poor conditions.

The MSS in Haiti, which is led by top Kenyan police officers, said in response that its offers had received their salaries, and that it had not received resignations.

The nations of Guatemala, El Salvador, Jamaica and Belize have also contributed officers to the anti-gang effort.