No Kenyan police officer in Haiti has resigned, all salaries paid – MSS clarifies

The Multinational Security Support (MSS) has dismissed reports that a section of the Kenyan police officers deployed to Haiti have tendered their resignations due to pay delays and general poor working conditions.

This comes after Reuters News on Friday reported that nearly 20 of the roughly 400 Kenyan police officers serving in Haiti on a U.N.-backed anti-gang force resigned from the mission over the past two months.

MSS Force Commander Godfrey Otunge, in a statement released on Saturday, termed the reporting as “both inaccurate and malicious.”

According to Commander Otunge, all the officers on the mission have been paid their salaries and allowances, hence none of them has downed their gun just yet.

He went ahead to condemn the UK-based news agency for the reporting, noting that the MSS was not sought for a comment on the matter before the piece was published.

“The Multinational Security Support (MSS) has been made aware of reports circulating on various media platforms, attributed to Reuters News, claiming that some members of the MSS Kenya Contingent are considering resigning due to delayed payment of allowances,” read the statement.

“The MSS categorically refutes these claims. Reuters News did not reach out to the MSS for clarification, and the information being disseminated is both inaccurate and malicious. All MSS personnel have received they salaries, including monthly allowances, and no MSS officer has tendered their resignation as alleged.”

Commander Otunge further claimed that the Kenyan officers deployed to Haiti are in high spirits and are fully committed to completing their mission.

He also urged media outfits to reach out to the MSS for clarification on mission matters, stating that all necessary communication about the deployment will be transparent.

“MSS officers remain highly motivated and fully committed to supporting the Haitian National Police (HNP) in conducting decisive operations aimed at dismantling gang networks and restoring stability,” stated Commander Otunge.

“We urge all stakeholders, including local and international media, to seek clarification directly from the MSS before publishing any reports. Our doors remain open for transparent communication.”

He added: “The MSS remains resolute in its mission to help Haiti reclaim its glory and restore peace and security for its people.”

Reuters had based its reporting on three officers who sought anonymity, and who allegedly revealed that their colleagues began to submit letters of resignation in October after trying to resign verbally and being told to put their requests in writing.

Three officers reportedly submitted resignation letters in October and another 15 or so in November. Among them are said to have been at least five senior officers, including a unit commander, who was the first to submit a letter in October.

Kenya has deployed about 400 officers since June to lead the MSS, which is meant to comprise around 2,500 personnel from about 10 countries, but the force has been hobbled by funding and staffing shortfalls.

Only a handful of officers from the other countries have arrived in Haiti, and a pledge in October by Kenyan President William Ruto to send another 600 officers the following month did not materialise.