PORT-AU-PRINCE Haiti July 7 -The Kenyan police in Haiti on Saturday received more equipment including helicopters and armoured personnel carriers to boost their operational efficiency in the Caribbean country.
The officers also received protective kits as they continue enhancing patrols with Haitian National Police (HNP), according to the troops commander, Godfrey Otunge.
The troops are expected to guard the main port, airport, main highways, hospital and presidential residence.
The Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome had also earlier said since the arrival of the officers in Haiti, they have been working closely with their host, the HNP.
The troops have so far undertaken strategic mapping of the key areas of operational concerns and conducted several joint patrols within the gang-controlled capital, Port-au-Prince.
“As a Service, we wish to reiterate that our mission in Haiti is a noble task for the good of our brothers and sisters of Haiti, and further appeal to fellow Kenyans to support them as they lift our national flag high, along with discharging their international policing mandate,” Koome said.
Otunge has also clarified that the Kenyan troops will not be guarding the US Embassy in Haiti after photos emerged online of the officers at the embassy in Tabarre area.
Kenya said the team had been assigned there as there was a meeting that was being held inside the embassy to discuss various logistical issues. Concerns had been raised that the Kenyan troops were guarding the embassy instead of patrolling the streets to deal with the marauding gangs.
The commander however clarified that another team had also gone to receive the latest batch of equipment that had been sent by the US for their use.
Kenya has also clarified that the embassy is usually guarded by the US marines and another squad known as Special Program for Embassy Augmentation and Response (SPEAR).
“Our officers were not there to guard the embassy but as part of a meeting that was ongoing inside. We went to discuss many issues and receive more equipment for use by the troops,” Otunge said.
He added because of many threats, about ten commandos accompanied the team in the negotiations.
The first batch of officers left the country on June 24 and about 1000 officers are expected to be deployed in Haiti under the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSSM).
The MSSM was authorised by the United Nations Security Council on October 2, 2023, under Resolution 2699.
The Kenyan troops will be joined on the mission by other teams from countries such as Chile, Jamaica, Grenada, Paraguay, Burundi, Chad, Nigeria, and Mauritius.
According to officials, the second team of Kenyan police will depart for Haiti on June 15.
The Nairobi-based team coordinator Noor Gabow, the Deputy Inspector General in charge of Administration Police Service flew back to Kenya on June 30 to oversee the planned departure of the second batch.
Kenya, which is leading the 2,500-member security force, has agreed with the Haitian government on rules of engagement for the security personnel, who could face fierce opposition from the well-armed Haitian gangs that have taken over the country’s capital and overwhelmed local police.
The Kenyan teams are from the Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU), Anti Stock Theft Unit (ASTU), General Service Unit (GSU), and Border Patrol Unit (BPU).
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