U.S. Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman expressed her deep regret over the delayed allowances for Kenyan police officers deployed in Haiti.
The revelation came as families of the officers protested that they had not received their pay nearly three months after their deployment to the turbulent Caribbean nation, which is currently grappling with a severe security crisis.
Ambassador Whitman stated she was taken aback by the reports and was unaware of the situation until she saw the media coverage.
“That was unacceptable; that should not have happened. They should have received their remuneration from the day they landed in Haiti,” she remarked. Whitman assured that the officers would receive their pay by the end of the week, specifically mentioning Thursday or Friday.
The situation has been compounded by the challenge faced by the families of the police officers, many of whom are struggling financially and unable to support their children’s education due to the prolonged payment delays.
Whitman noted that the United States is responsible for overseeing the funding of the mission, which encompasses not only the remuneration of peacekeepers but also the deployment of essential equipment.
In parallel, Acting Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli confirmed that the Kenyan police contingent in Haiti would receive their delayed compensation within the week. Masengeli pledged that mechanisms would be instituted to prevent future pay delays for the officers serving in international missions.
Approximately 394 police officers from Kenya have been deployed to Haiti as part of a larger commitment of 1,000 personnel. These officers, primarily drawn from the General Service Unit (GSU), Border Patrol, and other special units, have been active in maintaining peace alongside their Haitian counterparts. Despite achieving successes in some areas, they continue to face numerous challenges, including the urgent need for advanced equipment to reclaim territories from armed gangs.
This development comes following U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s recent directive to release Ksh 14.1 billion to support the mission in Haiti, which includes the necessary funds for Kenyan peacekeepers.
