The United States has informed the United Nations (UN) that it is freezing some of the critical funds meant for the peacekeeping mission in Haiti.

Addressing the press on Tuesday evening, the UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric revealed that Donald Trump’s administration announced that it would be freezing Ksh1.7 billion meant for the mission.

“We received an official notification from the United States asking for the immediate stop work order on the mission contribution,” Dujarric told journalists. 

The move to stop funding the peacekeeping mission is part of the sweeping orders the US President issued, which also included halting foreign aid for 90 days.

A contingent of Kenya Police Officers disembark from a Kenya Airways plane at the Port-au-Prince airport in Haiti on January 19, 2025.

Ministry of Interior

Donald Trump’s announcement was made just hours after 70 peacekeepers from El Salvador arrived in Haiti to join more than 600 Kenyan peacekeepers who are already in the Caribbean nation.

In his latest move, Trump also withdrew the US from all the other UN-backed humanitarian projects, setting a broader review of America’s funding for multilateral groups.

In November last year, the United States stepped up its campaign to transform the Kenya-led mission into a UN-backed mission, however, it is still unclear the impact Trump’s orders will have on the mission.

The US was the biggest contributor to the mission launched by former American President Joe Biden in 2023. However, since its launch, the mission has been marred by several challenges, including insufficient funds.

The mission's mandate, first approved by the US to last for 12 months was set to end in October last year, however, the duration was extended for another year with President Ruto calling on the international community to honour their commitments to support the mission.

Speaking during a press briefing in October last year, the Head of State after holding talks with former Haiti Prime Minister Garry Conille in Nairobi, said the mission had shown positive results, restoring hope and providing a glimpse of the stability that lies ahead for Haiti.

President Ruto said the Kenyan officers are working closely with the Haitian National Police to restore order, protect critical infrastructure and create safe spaces where Haitians can thrive.

Ruto also commended the professionalism displayed by the Kenyan police adding that Kenya's deployment of its security around the world was one of the reasons it was elected to the UN Human Rights Council. 

“Kenya and Haiti believe in the need for reform that realigns these institutions to serve the needs of all nations, ensuring a more just and sustainable world,” Ruto said.

However, despite Ruto's initial promise that the Kenyan contingent would restore peace in the Caribbean nation, violence in Haiti has worsened with gangs expanding their control. 

Similarly, the UN is also struggling to support the resource-strapped Kenyan officers who have occasionally lamented delayed payments.

President William Ruto addressing Kenyan Police Officers in Haiti when he made a stopover on September 21, 2024.

PSC