Murkomen: Kenya police officers in Haiti to return home soon

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, addresses the press on June 26, 2025 at Harambee House Nairobi. [Edward Kiplimo,Standard] Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has hinted that the Kenyan troops in Haiti will return home after a "successful" tour of duty. According to the CS, following a decision by the United Nations Security Council to form a large force, the Kenyan police officers service under the Multinational Security Suppoet Mission whose mandate ended yesterday, the Kenyan police officers will return home, and a fresh team deployed to Haiti. On Tuesday, the UN Security Council authorised formation of Gang Suppression Force (GSF) to replace the Kenyan-led security support mission. Under an initial 12-month mandate, the GSF will work closely with the Haitian National Police (HNP) to dismantle gangs controlling many towns making life unbearable in the Caribbean country. The 5,550-strong force will also protect vulnerable groups, support reintegration of former fighters and help strengthen Haitian institutions. For the last one year, more than 700 Kenyan police officers have been part of the MSS mission, which faced serious underfunding, insufficient personnel, and limited operational capacity. Ambassador Mike Waltz said that the MSS mission lacked the scale, scope and resources needed to take the fight to the gangs and restore order in Haiti. "Today's vote sets that right. With this vote to transform the MSS mission to the new Gang Suppression Force, a mission five times the size of its predecessor and with a strengthened mandate to go after the gangs," he stated. The resolution co-penned by Panama and the United States, and backed by dozens of countries, was adopted by a vote of 12 in favour, with three abstentions from China, Pakistan, and Russia. "Our officers in Haiti have done a good job of pacifying towns. But since the United Nations Security Council has expanded the scope of the operation, our officers will return home and a new team deployed there. Those returning home bring with them valuable experience that will be of benefit to the country," said Murkomen during the Jukwaa La Usalama forum held at the Kenya School of Government, Lower Kabete. And while welcoming the return of the officers, participants at the forum said they saw no need of having them in Haiti when there were serious security challenges in Nairobi and other parts of country. Speakers at the event identified corruption, criminal gangs, consumption of illicit brews and drugs, chaotic public transport, mushrooming of kiosks, lack of street lights, garbage, clogged drainages as their major headache contributing to insecurity. Chiefs who spoke expressed their frustrations at how the fight against illicit brews had been lost due to frustration by police officers whom they claimed were protecting dealers in exchange of bribes. They recounted on countless times dealers in illegal brews are released on flimsy grounds. "Mr CS, recently I launched a crackdown netting 5,000 litres and arresting the main suspect who I handed over to police, but before I reached my office, the man had been released. The following day he was in business as usual; I felt frustrated," said a chief from Kibra. Murkomen asked the participants to be on the forefront in fighting gangs, which he said had taken over the city by engaging in violent crime and encroaching on private land. "We need to agree, we will not allow gangs to take over our city and country. In Nairobi, we have about 200 gangs, that's not sustainable in a country and we have agreed with the IG what to do, but I want to hear from your side the issues you're facing," said Murkomen. Erastus Ekuwom, the Ruaraka traffic commander attributed the constant jams to pot-holed roads, blocked drainage, dysfunctional traffic lights, and disorderly hawkers, handcart pushers and trolley pullers. According to the Chief Inspector, pedestrians were avoiding footbridges because of safety concerns and poor lighting at night.

Murkomen: Kenya police officers in Haiti to return home soon

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