Kenyan force in Haiti says ‘no room for failure’ in curbing gang violence – National

The head of the Kenya-led multinational force tasked with curbing gang violence in Haiti emphasized on Monday that “there’s no room for failure” and that the United Nations-backed police mission was dedicated to ensuring democratic elections in the Caribbean nation.

The nationally broadcast news conference marked the first public statement from the Kenyan force, although no questions were taken from the media during the briefing.

However, significant concerns persist about the Kenyan force, which arrived in Haiti late last month, following the takeover of most of the country’s capital, Port-au-Prince, by powerful gangs that led to the resignation of the prime minister.

“We have a mission that we are fully committed to,” stated Kenyan officer Godfrey Otunge. “We plan to accomplish this by collaborating closely with Haitian authorities and local and international partners who are dedicated to a new Haiti.”

The U.N.-backed mission, supported by over $300 million from the United States, has faced scrutiny from the outset. In Kenya, the police force has been frequently accused of human rights violations by watchdogs and witnesses, including during recent protests.

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Haiti’s new Prime Minister Garry Conille has described the history of foreign intervention in his country as a “mixed bag,” citing human rights violations and a “lack of respect for sovereignty and local culture.”

Despite some skepticism, many in Haiti have expressed optimism about the new mission. Kenya has committed to providing 1,000 police officers to the international police force, with 200 already on the ground, and Conille announced that the next contingent will be arriving soon. Additional police forces from the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Chad, and Jamaica are set to join, bringing the total force to 2,500 personnel.

A transitional council appointed Conille as the new prime minister in May, with U.S. officials urging him to prioritize the establishment of an electoral council as the country works towards rebuilding its government. Conille’s main task is to stabilize the country in preparation for democratic elections in February 2026.

Otunge stated that the new mission’s goal is to “create security conditions conducive to holding free and fair elections.”

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Haitian police chief Normil Rameau also addressed the nation on Monday, stating that the U.N.-backed mission is focused on regaining control of all areas from gangs, restoring police presence in regions lacking authority, and aiding displaced Haitians in returning home.

More than half a million people have been displaced due to the violence.

Rameau and other Haitian officials have refrained from disclosing specific details of future operations for strategic reasons, aiming to avoid alerting the gangs of their plans.

In 2022, Haiti requested an international force to combat gangs, and U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres sought a country to lead the force for several months before Kenya stepped forward.

Since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse on July 7, 2021, the gangs have gained significant power and are now believed to control up to 80% of Haiti’s capital. The increase in violence, including killings, rapes, and kidnappings, has sparked a violent response from civilian vigilante groups.

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