Kenya has been joined by police officers from Jamaica and Belize in their peace mission in Haiti.

In a statement from the office of the commander of the mission Godfrey Otunge, additional officers from the two countries jetted into the Caribbean nation on Thursday, September 12, 2024, evening to bolster the efforts by the Kenyan personnel.

“On Thursday, September 12, 2024, at Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince, Godfrey Otunge; the MSSM Force Commander, accompanied by Rameau Normil-Director General PNH, welcomed the Caricom advance contingent which included Jamaica and Belize,” the statement read in part.

The Kenya contingent was on hand to receive their counterparts at the airport along with locals who also included a team of journalists, welcoming the new team who are perceived to have given the mission a multinational face that has been lacking since Kenya’s first deployment.

“Otunge addressed the media where he welcomed the Caricom team while urging contributing countries that are yet to deploy to do so before the end of the deployment phase which is about to end,” the statement noted.

While several countries had committed to providing troops to troubled Caribbean countries, only Kenya had provided at least 400 police officers to Haiti.

In March, the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin and Chad formally notified the United Nations (UN) of their intention to avail their troops to support the peace mission in Haiti.

However, they have yet to provide the officers to the nation which plunged into chaos following the death of its Prime Minister.

Allocation for Haiti mission

According to UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric, at least Ksh13 billion had been set aside for the mission as early as February this year with more than Ksh80 billion in pledges by international partners.

The new addition is expected to give the Kenyan troops set foot in Haiti to reclaim regions and government infrastructure previously under the control of gangs.

 So far, the troops indicate they have achieved major success in gaining territories previously under the control of Haitian gang leader Jimmy Chérizier aka Barbecue.

On July 19, 2024, the law enforcement officers collaborated with their Haitian counterparts to recapture Port-au-Prince port after a fierce gun battle with gang members who had occupied the strategic seaport since March 6, 2024.