NAIROBI, KENYA — Kenya’s Interior Minister announced the deployment of 217 additional police officers to Haiti as part of an international effort to combat escalating gang violence in the country.
In a statement on Saturday, Kipchumba Murkomen confirmed that the officers left Kenya on Friday to join the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission force aimed at stabilizing the region.
“The Kenya-led mission has made tremendous progress in reducing gang violence, earning praise across the globe,” said Mukomen, who shared a photo of himself with some of the officers aboard a plane.
Kenya’s “commitment to this historic mission is unwavering,” he said.
Kenya first deployed troops to Haiti in June, and with the latest addition, the total number of Kenyan officers in the Caribbean nation now exceeds 600.
President William Ruto has committed to sending 1,000 troops as part of the United Nations-backed force aimed at restoring stability in Haiti.
Gang violence in Haiti has led to the displacement of over 700,000 people in recent years, with many seeking refuge in overcrowded, unsanitary shelters after their homes were destroyed by armed groups.
According to the United Nations, more than 5,600 people were killed in Haiti last year, marking an increase of over 20% compared to 2023.
In addition to the fatalities, over 2,200 people were injured and nearly 1,500 were kidnapped, as reported by the U.N. Human Rights Office.
