Written By Lisa Murimi
The United States has promised to upgrade the fleet of military vehicles used by Kenyan police forces currently deployed in Haiti to combat gang violence in Port-au-Prince.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, announced the enhancement during her visit to the troubled Caribbean nation on Monday.
Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield informed the Kenyan police contingent in Haiti that they would soon receive mine-resistant military trucks.
These vehicles are designed to withstand improvised explosive device (IED) attacks and ambushes, providing better protection for the officers.
The Kenya Police in Haiti are already equipped with weapons and warfare infrastructure salvaged from Pentagon stockpiles, including eight armored military trucks.
However, during a recent engagement with gangs, one of these trucks broke down, highlighting the need for more reliable equipment.
The mine-resistant military trucks, known as Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, range in cost from USD 400,000 to USD 1 million due to their specialized design.
These vehicles were first utilized by the United States in Iraq in 2007 and later in Afghanistan.
Currently, there are 400 Kenyan police officers in Haiti, with plans to increase the contingent to 1,000 security officers based on the evolving situation. Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi indicated that the number of officers would be adjusted as needed.
Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield expressed optimism about the mission’s potential for success, despite acknowledging the challenges ahead.
“We know that progress is not linear. There will be inevitable setbacks and stumbling blocks, and yet this mission has opened a door to progress,” she remarked.
