A Haitian police officer stands guard outside of the presidential residence in Port-au-Prince.Photo credit: Valerie Baeriswyl | AFP
The United States’ decision to freeze million in funding for the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti has reignited concerns about Kenya’s deployment to the troubled Caribbean nation. The funding freeze, part of a broader 90-day pause on foreign aid, comes as the mission faces mounting logistical and security challenges.
Kenyan activist Dr. Isaac Newton Kinity, a vocal critic of the deployment, has once again questioned President William Ruto’s motivations and the safety of Kenyan police officers in Haiti. His current remarks echo his earlier warnings from September last year when he predicted severe risks for Kenyan forces.
Back in September, Dr. Kinity raised alarm over the dangers awaiting Kenyan officers in Haiti, describing the country as “too unstable and dangerous” for deployment. He cited Haiti’s lack of governance, the presence of over 200 armed gangs 95 of which operate in the capital, Port-au-Prince and the language barrier as major obstacles.
“First, being anglophones, they will have great difficulty communicating with the francophone residents,” Dr. Kinity warned at the time. He also highlighted how other nations, including the US which had only pledged $100 million had been reluctant to send their own forces due to the risks involved.
With the US now halting funding, Dr. Kinity is questioning how President Ruto plans to sustain the mission.
“What will William Ruto do with the Kenyan police in Haiti now that all the money he was getting from the USA in the name of funding the askaris has been stopped?” he asked.
He also reiterated his previous stance that Kenya should have sought a United Nations-led mission rather than taking unilateral action.
“One wonders why President William Ruto didn’t call for a UN mission in which Kenyan security forces would be part of, instead of going it alone,” he had stated in September.
Dr. Kinity’s criticism extends beyond Haiti. He pointed to Ruto’s decision to reopen Kenya’s border with Somalia despite increased Al-Shabaab attacks, questioning the government’s commitment to national security.
“The reopening of the border has posed great danger from Al-Shabaab terrorists, not only to common Kenyans but even to security personnel,” he said.
Despite the funding setback, the Kenyan government maintains that the Haiti mission will proceed as planned. Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura assured that there is sufficient funding to sustain operations until September 2025. Additionally, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei revealed that approximately $600 million has been pledged for the mission from other sources. Kenya is also considering transitioning the operation into a full UN mission to secure direct funding.
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