The Deputy Inspector General of the Kenya Police Service (DIG-KPS), Eliud Lagat, together with Deputy National Security Advisor Joseph Boinnet, Monday visited Kenyan officers serving in Haiti under the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, before departing with more than 200 police officers as Kenya begins its strategic drawdown.
Kenya deployed police to Haiti in June 2024 to assist in stabilizing the country, which was previously plagued by criminal gang activity.
Over the past two and a half years, Kenyan officers played a pivotal role in restoring law and order, enabling the reopening of key infrastructure such as the international airport, seaports, and major roads in Port-au-Prince, while assisting the Haitian National Police (HNP) in regaining operational capability.
The withdrawal follows the transformation of the MSS into the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) under United Nations Security Council Resolution No. 2793 (2025).
Disagreements over leadership of the new GSF prompted Kenya to pull out its personnel.
The departing team represents the third rotation of officers, following the return of a previous team last week.
During the visit, DIG Lagat and Bonnet praised Kenyan officers for their professionalism, discipline, and commitment throughout the mission.
Lagat extended greetings from the Inspector General of the National Police Service, Douglas Kanja, and emphasized the importance of continued collaboration between Kenya and Haiti, suggesting future exchange programmes for mutual learning and capacity building in policing.
“Kenya’s leadership in this mission has been transformative,” DIG Lagat noted.
“The experience gained by our officers will be invaluable when they return home to serve the people of Kenya.”
The briefing also included MSS Commander Godfrey Otunge and representatives from key international partners, including the Canadian Ambassador to Haiti, André François Giroux, and the US Deputy Chargé d’Affaires, David W. Howell, highlighting the ongoing international support for Haiti’s stabilization efforts.
Kenya’s contribution to the MSS mission is widely acknowledged as instrumental in reducing gang dominance in the country, restoring order in previously ungovernable areas, and strengthening the capacity of the Haitian National Police.
The team was expected to arrive back in Kenya at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Tuesday evening.
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