Commander of Kenya’s security forces in Haiti says gangs’ days are numbered

The Kenya-led police force mission in Haiti remains well below its envisioned 2,500 personnel, seriously underfunded and has yet to make a major impact against armed gangs.

he United States, which has provided more than $300 million for the mission, remains its largest financial backer, along with Canada, which recently provided $59 million Canadian dollars to a United Nations controlled trust fund.

Approved for only a year in October 2023, the Multinational Security Support mission’s re-authorization is scheduled to be discussed by the U.N. Security Council on Sept. 30. Supporters face questions about the force’s long-term sustainability and its effectiveness in helping Haiti’s beleaguered police take down gangs, who earlier this year united to lead a broad assault on key government infrastructure.

The Biden administration, aware of the challenges, now wants to transform the force into a more formal U.N. peacekeeping operation or some hybrid that would allow for funding and staffing to be stabilized. In the meantime, the Kenyan cops and the Haiti National Police have been training together.