400 Kenyan Police Officers Resign from Haiti Mission Amid Salary Payment Delays

A wave of resignations has struck the Kenyan contingent serving in the United Nations-backed Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti, as twenty officers out of 400 have tendered their resignations due to ongoing delays in salary payments.

Although they submitted their resignation letters two months ago, the officers have yet to receive any official response as continue to fulfil their duties in the troubled Caribbean nation. The situation unfolds against a backdrop of public denials by senior Kenyan officials regarding alleged salary issues. Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja asserted during a recent media briefing that the officers had been compensated up to October, commending their contributions to improving conditions in Haiti.

Similarly, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo stated that the officers' engagement terms, including payment protocols, were clearly defined under the MSS mission framework. However, the discontented officers, choosing to remain anonymous for fear of reprisal, have contradicted official statements, detailing persistent payment delays and expressing frustration with the leadership of the National Police Service.

They lament the difficult conditions faced in Haiti, which include communication restrictions and disarmament efforts in a highly volatile environment. Additionally, they noted that more colleagues, including a unit commander, have also resigned. This wave of resignations follows Kenya's earlier commitment to deploy 1,000 officers to Haiti to address escalating gang violence. This deployment was sanctioned by the United Nations Security Council's Resolution 2699 adopted in October 2023, responding to a request for support from Haiti's government and civil society.

The 12-month international police service mission, under Kenyan leadership, aims to assist Haitian police in restoring order during a period of severe civil unrest. Haiti has faced a dramatic surge in violence since 2018, with 2023 seeing a significant rise in homicides, kidnappings, and sexual assaults. Reports indicate that over 3,600 individuals lost their lives, and more than half a million people were displaced due to gang-related violence before the arrival of Kenyan forces.

The extensive unrest has severely undermined governance and public security, with an estimated 80% of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital, now under gang control. The assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021 further complicated the nation’s stability, allowing armed gangs to establish dominance over large areas of the capital and its outskirts. This escalating violence has driven a humanitarian crisis, displacing over 700,000 individuals, including a significant number of children, as reported by UN estimates.

The World Food Programme has also indicated famine-like conditions in shelters for the displaced, with roughly 5.4 million Haitians facing acute hunger. Kenya began its deployment with an initial batch of 200 officers sent to Haiti in June, followed by a second similar contingent shortly thereafter. President William Ruto has emphasized Kenya's strong credentials in peacekeeping and conflict resolution, expressing optimism that the presence of Kenyan officers in Haiti would alleviate the suffering caused by rampant gang violence.