Haiti welcomes 5th contingent of Kenyan police to to help restore security

Haitian President pro tempore and Coordinator of the Transition Council, Laurent Saint-Cyr, on Monday welcomed the latest group of Kenyan police officers deployed to reinforce the Gang Repression Force (FRG), the multinational mission working to restore security in Haiti.

The fifth contingent, comprising 230 specialised Kenyan police officers, arrived at Toussaint Louverture International Airport, accompanied by Kenya’s Deputy National Security Advisor Joseph Boinett and Principal Deputy Inspector General James Kamau.

They were greeted by senior Haitian and international officials, including FRG Commander Godfrey Otunge, Commander of the Armed Forces of Haiti Lieutenant General Derby Guerrier, Acting Director General of the Haitian National Police (PNH) Vladimir Paraison, members of the High Command, and diplomats such as Canadian Ambassador André François Giroux, French Ambassador Antoine Michon, and Kenyan Consul General Noor Gabow.

Part of larger UN-approved security force

The FRG—approved by the UN Security Council in September—aims to build a 5,500-member multinational force made up of police and military personnel. Its mandate includes dismantling armed groups, securing humanitarian corridors, and strengthening Haiti’s policing capacity through intelligence-led operations and coordinated arrests.

The new Kenyan contingent arrived as 100 Kenyan officers completed their mission and departed Haiti. President Saint-Cyr thanked the outgoing personnel for their service and pledged ongoing collaboration between Haitian authorities, the Armed Forces of Haiti, and the PNH.

Commander Otunge said the force has incorporated lessons learned from earlier deployments to improve effectiveness. Boinett delivered greetings from Kenyan President William Ruto, reaffirming Kenya’s commitment to supporting Haiti during the transition. “Kenya will stand with the Haitian people to guarantee peace and stability during this transitional phase,” he said.

Regional support continues

The newly arrived Kenyan officers join counterparts from Guatemala, El Salvador, The Bahamas, and Jamaica, reflecting broad regional participation in the mission.

Their deployment comes at a critical moment. Haiti’s security crisis has deepened since early 2024, when armed groups forced then–prime minister Ariel Henry to resign. The United Nations estimates that armed groups now control a majority of Port-au-Prince, contributing to severe instability nationwide.

The multinational security mission—originally approved in 2023 to support Haitian police—has struggled to secure sufficient funding and equipment. The force currently has about 1,000 personnel, far short of the 2,500 initially expected.

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In late September, the UN Security Council approved plans to develop a more robust anti-gang force in response to escalating violence.

Haiti remains under a transitional government. The country has not held elections in nine years, but legislative and presidential elections have now been scheduled for summer 2026 as authorities work toward rebuilding state institutions and restoring democratic governance.