US Honors Kenyan Police Officers for Haiti Role

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The United States has commended Kenyan police officers for their critical role in preventing the complete collapse of the Haitian government amid severe gang violence, as the first cohort of officers deployed to the mission received formal honors in Nairobi.

The recognition ceremony took place on Thursday at the National Police Service’s Embakasi A Campus. US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau personally presented certificates to the officers, acknowledging their service under the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, which later transitioned into the Gang Suppression Force (GSF).

The first group of Kenyan officers arrived in Haiti in June 2024 and completed their tour last year. They faced extremely challenging conditions, including intense gang activity, equipment shortages, and coordination difficulties. Landau highlighted the decisive impact of their deployment, noting that the international community had urgently sought assistance to restore order and safety in Haiti. He stated that only Kenya stepped forward to lead the effort. He expressed full conviction that the fragile Haitian government would not have survived the onslaught of armed gangs without the presence and actions of the Kenyan officers and their multinational partners.

Three additional cohorts of Kenyan police have since been deployed to Port-au-Prince, including 20 women from the National Police Service SWAT team. The current GSF comprises 5,500 officers with improved resources and expanded authority to reclaim territory, restore state control, and support the normalization of daily life and economic activity in Haiti.

National Security Advisor Monica Juma expressed deep satisfaction with the mission's achievements, attributing success to the professionalism of the Kenyan contingent, vital support from the United States, and contributions from other participating countries. She recalled Kenya's extensive history in international peace support operations, spanning 46 missions across regions including East Timor, the former Yugoslavia, Namibia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and others.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen voiced strong confidence in the enhanced GSF structure, describing it as a pivotal shift to a better-resourced operation capable of delivering greater results against gang threats.

Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja emphasized the ongoing partnership with the United States, which has bolstered Kenya's domestic capabilities through training, modern vehicles, specialized equipment, advanced facilities, and drone technology for intelligence and surveillance to address security threats more effectively.

Deputy Inspector General Gilbert Masengeli of the Administration Police Service pointed out that the expertise gained in combating gangs in Haiti will directly strengthen local security operations back home.

The event also included posthumous honors for Kenyan officers who lost their lives during the mission. Attendees featured US Chargé d’Affaires Susan Burns, US Africa Command Commander General Dagvin Anderson, and senior National Police Service leadership.

This ceremony underscores the deepening collaboration between Kenya and the United States in addressing transnational security challenges, including counter-terrorism, counter-narcotics, cybercrime, human and child trafficking, and other cross-border crimes. Kenya's leadership in the Haiti mission has highlighted its commitment to global stability and its readiness to respond when called upon by the international community.

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