Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen shared photos of himself seeing off the officers.

He emphasized Kenya’s commitment to restoring peace and stability in the Caribbean, plagued by gang violence and lawlessness.

“Our commitment to this historic mission is unwavering, and we will continue to mobilize all necessary international support for it to succeed,” Murkomen said in a social media statement.

The newly deployed officers join about 400 Kenyan police who arrived in Haiti in May 2024.

With this latest addition, Kenya has surpassed 600 personnel on the ground, nearing its initial promise to deploy 1,000 officers.

Kenya remains a leading contributor to the MSS mission, which aims to bolster Haiti’s understaffed security forces and curb gang activity that has displaced over a million people.

Despite pledges from 10 countries to contribute more than 3,100 troops, few nations have made significant deployments.

Kenya’s leadership and proactive stance have garnered praise from the international community.

This includes commendations from both outgoing and incoming US administrations for the mission's progress in reducing violence.

Arguably, one of the most memorable moments was when Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Interior and National Administration Raymond Omollo led a heartfelt prayer for the soldiers.

PS Omollo emphasized the importance of divine protection for the officers and reaffirmed Kenya’s unwavering resolve to help bring peace to Haiti.

“We pray for your safety and success as you carry our nation’s banner high in this noble mission. Your courage and dedication are a testament to Kenya’s commitment to global peace,” the prayer went.

A group of gangs marshalled by Jimmy Chérizier, nicknamed Barbecue, terrorised the country and pushed the resignation of then-besieged prime minister Ariel Henry.

Lawlessness and violence were meted out to the Haitian citizenry for a time as the anarchists went after Henry's administration.

Henry had taken over the reins of power in Haiti in July 2021 following the assassination of the country's then-president Jovenel Moise.

Source: TUKO.co.ke