Kenyan Troops Gear Up for Deployment to Violence-Torn Haiti

Kenyan authorities have confirmed their readiness to deploy troops to Haiti to combat the escalating gang violence plaguing the Caribbean nation.

This move follows extensive discussions between Kenyan officials and their American counterparts, culminating in a visit by a group of top Kenyan security personnel to Washington, D.C., where they finalized the deployment plans over the course of five days. The initial contingent, comprising approximately 200 soldiers, has been placed on standby and is poised to embark on their mission between May 18 and May 22, just before President William Ruto's scheduled visit to the United States on May 23.

This Kenyan force, led by the country's elite Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU), Anti Stock Theft Unit (ASTU), General Service Unit (GSU), and Border Patrol Unit (BPU), will join forces with troops from Chile, Jamaica, Grenada, Paraguay, Burundi, Chad, Nigeria, and Mauritius in a multinational effort to restore order in Haiti. Preparations for the deployment have been underway, with barracks already constructed and ready to accommodate the Kenyan officers. The United States has also played a crucial role in this endeavour, with American troops actively engaged in the construction of additional housing facilities to accommodate the multinational teams.

Todd D. Robinson, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, has confirmed these developments to the Miami Herald, revealing that the initial deployment of Kenyan police officers will coincide with President Ruto's arrival in Washington later this month. President Ruto had previously announced Kenya's willingness to contribute 1,000 police officers to the international force mandated by the U.N. Security Council in October 2022. This commitment, however, was contingent upon a security assessment conducted by the Kenyan government.

The initiative to provide aid to Haiti has faced numerous obstacles, including legal challenges and funding shortfalls. While the legal hurdles have been overcome, the lack of adequate funding remains a pressing issue. Despite the State Department's request for the release of $40 million from the pledged $100 million, Republican lawmakers in Congress have yet to respond favourably, leading to delays that have cost thousands of Haitian lives and left the country teetering on the brink of a humanitarian crisis. The United Nations has urged for a swift deployment of the Kenyan-led mission to provide much-needed assistance. While the current funding is sufficient to cover Kenya's personnel expenses and initial deployment, additional resources are required to sustain the operation.

In a parallel development, Haiti's transitional ruling council has appointed Edgard Leblanc Fils as its head, following the resignation of the former prime minister due to the escalating gang violence. Former Senate president Leblanc Fils will be part of the nine-member governing body tasked with coordinating efforts to restore order in the capital Port-au-Prince and facilitate the establishment of a functional government. This new council assumes power as the unelected and widely unpopular former prime minister Ariel Henry formally steps down, fulfilling his pledge made in March to resign once a council is established in the wake of armed gangs' demands for his removal.

The council's initial responsibility will be to designate a new prime minister, as Haiti's parliament remains non-functional and the country has been without a president since the assassination of Jovenel Moise in 2021. The interim team is expected to govern the nation until the upcoming elections, with a democratic government scheduled to take charge by February 6, 2026.