As Kenya gears up to send an additional 600 police officers to Haiti in support of a multinational mission, Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille has made a passionate plea for greater financial backing to ensure the operation’s success.
During a recent visit to the Administration Police Training College in Embakasi, Conille underscored the critical role Kenya is playing in the ongoing mission amid a deepening humanitarian crisis plaguing his homeland.
In a sobering assessment of the deteriorating situation in Haiti, Conille painted a stark picture. “Haiti is facing one of its worst times,” he said. “Eighty percent of the capital is controlled by gangs, approximately five percent of the population cannot return home, while nearly half are food insecure. The healthcare system has largely collapsed, and women are falling victim to rampant violence. This situation poses significant security and humanitarian threats.”
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja also spoke at the event, confirming that the new batch of officers has undergone pre-deployment training and is now fully prepared to assist their counterparts in Haiti. “We have additional officers right now, all drawn from the National Police Service, in readiness to support their brothers and sisters in Haiti,” Kanja stated.
Despite expressing gratitude for Kenya’s essential involvement, Conille highlighted that the mission remains starkly underfunded. “The frustration is not only with the financing of the mission but also with the level of resources needed to support it,” he noted. “This is insignificant compared to other missions worldwide. The Haitian people deserve more attention and support.”
The Prime Minister’s concerns were echoed during his recent meeting with President William Ruto at State House, where both leaders acknowledged the financial hurdles facing the mission. They appealed for additional support following the UN Security Council’s extension of the mission’s mandate, emphasizing the urgent need for international aid.
With the upcoming deployment, the total number of Kenyan police officers on the ground will reach 1,000, joining forces with personnel from The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Chad, and Jamaica as they work to restore order in Haiti.
Conille’s predecessor, Ariel Henry, faced numerous challenges during his tenure, and his inability to stabilize the situation in Port-au-Prince has contributed to Conille’s ascent as Prime Minister. Like his predecessors, Conille is confronted with the immense task of rebuilding a nation and addressing the dire needs of a population on the verge of collapse.
As the world watches, the success of this multinational police mission rests not only on the shoulders of the officers deployed but also on the international community’s response to Haiti’s escalating crisis.