Kenya-led Haiti mission’s fate to be decided at UN general assembly

The multi-national security support mission which marks a year since deployment of the first contingent of Kenyan police has faced challenges, among them inadequacy of personnel and logistics.

In the constant hunt for gangs in Port-au-Prince, the Kenyan police who lead the mission face insurmountable logistical headaches.

Here, a smashed APC that was involved in an accident, and which claimed the life of Benedict Kabiru more than two weeks ago.

The curvy roads of Port-au-Prince present an altogether different challenge, the heavily armored personnel carriers can barely navigate these roads, and are more often stuck than they are on the move, exposing the personnel to attacks from the gangs, which at times include setting the vehicles ablaze.

Driving through the deserted streets of Tabaare leads us to the police academy in Port-au-Prince which the Kenyan police has ringfenced from gangs, and where the next cohort of police in Haiti will graduate from.

For Haitians who have presented themselves for this training, it’s a sacrifice for their country – and which could be consequential if they fail the test because reintegrating back to a society that lives under the yoke of gangs could prove deadly.

Part of the Kenyan police contingent at this academy is entirely composed of women, who are taking on an assignment they say is risky but significant.