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Port-au-Prince, Haiti – On Saturday, January 18, 2025, 270 additional Kenyan soldiers departed Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport aboard a Kenya Airways flight at 2:00 a.m. local time. They landed later that day in Haiti to reinforce the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSSM). These reinforcements aim to bolster ongoing efforts to stabilize Haiti and support local security forces in restoring order.
This latest deployment brings the number of Kenyan personnel in Haiti to 617, including police officers and soldiers, as part of Kenya’s commitment to send 1,000 security personnel to Haiti. Authorities have confirmed that another group of 200 personnel will arrive by the end of January, with a final contingent of about 200 expected in February. This commitment aligns with Kenya’s leadership role in the MSSM, tasked with countering the influence of armed gangs.
The MSSM now totals 807 personnel, including 617 Kenyans, 150 Guatemalans, 24 Jamaicans, eight Salvadorans, six Bahamians, and two Belizeans. These reinforcements are part of the larger mission, expected to involve 2,500 personnel from various countries.
The MSSM’s goal is to tackle the pervasive gang violence that has taken control of over 80% of Port-au-Prince and forced more than one million Haitians to flee their homes, according to reports from HaitiLibre and international organizations. This displacement has created a severe humanitarian crisis, with urgent calls for international assistance.
Armed groups in Haiti continue to sow terror in the capital and surrounding areas, with widespread reports of kidnappings, extortion, and violence. Over the past year, the number of displaced individuals has tripled, now exceeding one million. According to UNICEF, half of these displaced individuals are children who face dire conditions and require immediate humanitarian support.
The deployment of these Kenyan reinforcements comes as the MSSM faces criticism for slow progress since its launch. Haitian officials and international observers hope that the growing number of personnel will accelerate efforts to regain control over gang-dominated areas and protect vulnerable communities.
As the mission gains momentum, questions remain about its capacity to deliver long-term stability. However, the latest reinforcements are a clear signal of the international community’s commitment to addressing the challenges in Haiti.
