Written by Lisa Murimi
Kenyan police officers deployed to Haiti have threatened to resign unless the government resolves their grievances, including delayed wage payments.Â
The officers claim they have not received their salaries for three months, leaving them financially strained.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja dismissed these allegations on November 5, asserting that all wages had been paid and that conditions in Haiti had significantly improved.
“The officers on the ground are doing quite well,” Kanja stated, emphasizing the government’s commitment to addressing their challenges.
Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo supported Kanja’s stance, clarifying that the United Nations, not Kenya, is responsible for the officers’ pay as part of the UN multi-support team in Haiti.
However, officers on the ground disputed these claims, describing their financial struggles and accusing authorities of controlling communication to suppress reports of their hardships.
The controversy follows revelations by Treasury CS John Mbadi that Kenya spent Ksh2 billion on the Haiti mission, despite initial assurances that domestic funds would not be used.
Mbadi assured Kenyans that the UN would reimburse the expenditure.
As tensions mount, the officers’ plight highlights growing concerns about transparency and accountability in Kenya’s international engagements.
