Kenyan police officers battling gangs in Haiti may soon get a major boost with plans to deploy more officers from the US and other African countries.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the deployment of officers from the Organisation of American States (OAS) during his address before the US Senate on Tuesday. "The security situation in Haiti risks worsening if no steps are taken to curb the bandits' activities," Rubio told the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The head of US diplomacy announced that he will immediately ask the OAS to lead the multinational force to restore order in Haiti, the Caribbean country that has been badly destabilised by the gangs.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi (left) shaking hands with United Secretary of State Marco Rubio after their meeting on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.
Photo Musalia Mudavadi This comes amid fears the mission could stall because of aid and funding cuts by the Donald Trump's administration in the foreign nation. However, the US moved to allay the fears, insisting they are fully committed towards supporting Kenya and other troops in Haiti. Rubio signed a consignment of armoured equipment and approved waivers for Ksh5.2 billion (USD40.7 million) to the MSS and Haitian National Police (HNP) on February 5. "The United States has not paused all assistance for the Multinational Security Support mission in Haiti. On the contrary, Secretary Rubio approved waivers to allow for millions of dollars in mission-critical assistance to the MSS mission and Haitian National Police (HNP)," the US Embassy in Haiti later confirmed. Meanwhile, the OAS has confirmed a major meeting of its 35 member states to deliberate on the Haitian situation, which keeps deteriorating despite the efforts of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti led by Kenya. A high-level symposium will be held on May 22, 2025, at the Hall of the Americas at the Organisation of American States (OAS) headquarters to identify urgent responses to the security crisis in Haiti.
