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In a strategic move aimed at strengthening trust and cooperation with local communities in Haiti, Kenyan authorities announced plans to send an all-female tactical unit as part of their ongoing security mission in the Caribbean nation. The female squad, drawn from Kenya’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, is set to deploy in November and will join Kenya’s broader security initiative to restore stability in Haiti, currently grappling with widespread gang violence.
This specialized contingent of women is a pioneering step within the 600-strong force promised by President William Ruto to bolster the United Nations-backed Multinational Security Support Mission (MSSM) in Haiti. The Kenyan forces, which include 400 personnel already on the ground, are tasked with supporting Haitian authorities in reclaiming territories controlled by armed groups, particularly around Port-au-Prince.
The deployment of a female-only tactical unit marks a departure from traditional peacekeeping strategies and is designed to enhance community relations in Haiti. Previous international missions have shown that integrating women into security roles can foster a sense of safety and trust within conflict-affected populations. Kenya’s prior experience deploying an all-female unit to Somalia, part of the African Union Transition Mission, demonstrated how women can play a unique role in outreach, mitigating tensions, and offering support in contexts where male forces may be met with resistance or distrust.
Kenyan officials and security experts believe that female officers are often better positioned to connect with women and children in local communities, which can lead to more effective intelligence gathering and broader acceptance of security initiatives.
Beyond tactical objectives, the all-female squad’s presence addresses gender-related challenges that frequently arise in conflict zones. Women officers can be instrumental in handling cases involving sexual violence, a documented issue in Haiti’s ongoing crisis, and are trained to offer sensitive and appropriate responses. The unit also signals Kenya’s commitment to gender representation in security roles, reflecting a trend toward greater inclusivity in international peacekeeping efforts.
According to Kenyan officials, the all-female deployment serves as a model for rethinking gender roles within security forces and aims to encourage Haitian women to participate more actively in public security roles. Kenya’s decision aligns with similar past missions, such as India’s groundbreaking deployment of an all-female force to Liberia in 2007 under the United Nations mandate, which had notable success in community integration and stabilization.
Kenya’s support of Haiti’s security comes amid a backdrop of increased international attention on the Caribbean nation, where armed groups control significant portions of the capital and other urban areas, limiting government access and destabilizing daily life. The Kenyan-led mission, endorsed by the UN, seeks to establish a secure environment conducive to socio-economic recovery and to provide Haiti with the foundation to re-establish sovereignty over its territories.
Kenya’s contribution reflects a growing recognition within peacekeeping circles that diverse, gender-balanced forces can be more effective in certain operational contexts. The mission aims to not only support Haiti’s immediate security needs but also to promote a shift in perceptions around women’s roles in conflict resolution and security.
