Opposition leader Kalonzo Musyoka has called on the Kenyan government to reconsider its involvement in the United Nations-backed peacekeeping mission in Haiti, highlighting the escalating costs and growing safety concerns for the deployed officers. This appeal follows recent incidents shows the mission’s challenges and risks.
Kenya’s commitment involves deploying 1,000 police officers to assist in stabilizing Haiti, a mission projected to cost approximately KSh36 billion over one year. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki informed Parliament that these funds, sourced from taxpayers, are designated for training, administrative support, transportation, equipment procurement, and other operational needs. While the United Nations has pledged reimbursement, concerns persist about the financial burden on Kenya’s economy.
The mission’s safety has been brought into sharp focus following the death of Kenyan officer Samuel Keituai, who was killed during an operation in Haiti. His funeral in Kajiado East was attended by dignitaries, including Kalonzo Musyoka and Democratic Alliance Party leader Eugene Wamalwa. During the service, Musyoka questioned the prudence of the mission, stating, “We don’t want to hear of another son of our soil being killed in Haiti; this is not peacekeeping, it’s peace forcing.”
Further complicating matters, reports have emerged of Kenyan officers facing delayed salary payments. Despite assurances from Police Inspector General Douglas Kanja that officers had been paid up to the end of October, some deployed personnel have reported three-month delays in receiving their wages. This financial strain adds to the growing list of concerns surrounding the mission.
The mission’s effectiveness is also under scrutiny. Despite the deployment of Kenyan officers, gang violence in Haiti persists, with armed groups controlling significant portions of the capital, Port-au-Prince. Haiti’s acting Prime Minister, Garry Conille, has urgently called for substantial reinforcements and funding for the Kenyan-led international mission to combat these violent gangs.
