Kenya deployed the troops to help alleviate escalating gang violence that has gripped the Caribbean country since the assassination of former President Jovenel Moïse in 2023.
Kenyan Police deployed in Haiti on Saturday, July 6 explained why officers deployed to the Caribbean nation to battle marauding gangs were deployed to protect the United States (US) Embassy in Tabarre area, Port-au-Prince earlier this week.
Kenya deployed the troops to help alleviate escalating gang violence that has gripped the Caribbean country since the assassination of former President Jovenel Moïse in 2023.
President William Ruto on June 24, 2024, flagged off the first batch of 400 police officers as part of the 1,000 officers Kenya pledged to deploy to the country. The officers have been deployed to guard key installations including embassies.
Speaking on the matter where the officers were photographed standing guard, Commander of the mission, Godfrey Otunga clarified that at the time, the troops were escorting him and other leaders to a meeting where they were also supposed to collect donated equipment from the American Embassy.
Kenya Police deployed to Haiti guard the US embassy in Port-au-Prince. /PATRICE NOEL
Otunga explained that the troops stood guard outside the Embassy as the leadership attended the meeting, ready to escort them back to their base once it was concluded.
He further clarified that the standard protocol should not be misinterpreted as a permanent or primary assignment at the Embassy.
“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,” he stated, adding that because of many threats, about 10 commandos accompanied the team in the negotiations.
His reaction came following complaints online that the troops were guarding the US Embassy in Haiti instead of patrolling streets to ensure they contained marauding gangs.
Local journalists even seized the opportunity to interact with the officers in a question and answer session, asking “What is nakupenda in English?” to which the officer responded “I love you,” the officer responded as other journalists enquired whether he speaks English to which he answered in the affirmative.
“How do you feel when in Haiti?” they asked, to which he said, “Not bad, this country not bad. It is comfortable here.”
The scribes pressed him further seeking his opinion on the entire mission to which he said he had no comment.
Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome earlier stated that since the arrival of the officers in Haiti, they have been working closely with their host, the Haitian National Police.
He said 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.
The team will guard the main port, airport, main highways, hospital and presidential residence.
