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Haiti government could have collapsed had it not been for Kenya Police, US says

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US Deputy Secretary of State says Kenya Police responsible for stability in Haiti

US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau revealed that the Haitian government could have collapsed due to gang violence had it not been for the presence of Kenyan police.

He said the Kenya police are responsible for the stability being experienced in Haiti.

“That government would not have survived had it not been for you. We have learned a lot from your experience. Your heroism and dedication was key.”

“I came here to say thank you. You answered the call of the international community to address the crisis in Haiti,” he said.

Landau said the world learned a lot from the Kenyan team in Haiti. He spoke at the National Police College, Embakasi ‘A’ Campus, at a ceremony to honour the Haiti Mission officers who completed their tour.

“It’s a tribute to the close relationship between Kenya and the USA. Your response showed how the international community can respond to a crisis.”

“Whenever you talk about this issue of a moment, you heeded the call to help. Tell your children, friends, and all,” he told the officers.

He awarded certificates to the officers who had returned from Haiti. Present were interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, National Security adviser Monica Juma, and Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja.

Kanja thanked the US for continued support to Kenya in many ways, including training sessions. Landau had earlier on met president William Ruto at State House.

Ruto expressed appreciation for US support in regional and global peace initiatives, including the transition of the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support mission in Haiti into a more robust Gang Suppression Force, supported through equipment and vehicle provision.

The Kenyan police are in Haiti to help the Caribbean country stabilise from criminal gangs. They arrived in Haiti in June 2024. At least two police officers have been killed in tu mission.

He also met Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, where they announced Kenya and the United States had agreed to advance collaborations in defence, peace and security as an anchor to regional stability.

“On the regional aspects that we deal with here in terms of security, it has to be a collaborated effort with various partners including the United Nations, the U.S. government, and other critical international community so that we can collectively bring peace and stability in the region,” Mudavadi said.

He said Kenya welcomes the recognition by the United States acknowledging the leadership and significant contribution by Kenya to international peace and stability, citing the recent involvement of Kenya in the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSSM) in Haiti.

“The mission could not have worked if there was no collaboration with the United States, in terms of the logistics and other aspects. The distance from Kenya to Haiti is about 12,000 KM away, and the working together with the government of the United States was absolutely essential in relation to the overall support that was necessary,” Mudavadi said.

“This collaboration helped to galvanize international support for funding of the MSS mission in Haiti.” Landau said he was in Kenya to appreciate its role in stabilizing the region and elsewhere.

“One of the major reasons why I am here is to thank the people and government of Kenya for the immense contribution you have made to international stability, especially in Haiti and more so in other regions in Africa and beyond,” Landau said.

Mudavadi said Kenya and the United States have also made significant progress across trade, investment, counterterrorism, health, education, and development, terming the efforts to have been major contributors to shared prosperity and strengthened stability across the region.

“We made significant financial support to the Haiti mission, and we worked very closely with Kenya, which had its police forces in Haiti, and they did an amazing job on the ground, and the level of stability we see in Haiti today, though still fragile, could have been much worse if these interventions were not made,” Landau said.

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