Exclusive-Kenyan police in Haiti tender resignations over pay delays

investing.com 06/12/2024 - 10:58 AM

Resignation of Kenyan Police Officers in Haiti

By Edwin Okoth

NAIROBI (Reuters) – Nearly 20 of the roughly 400 Kenyan police officers serving in Haiti on a U.N.-backed anti-gang force have submitted letters of resignation from the mission over the past two months due to pay delays and poor conditions, three officers told Reuters.

The officers have received no response to their letters and continue to serve on the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, said the three officers, who requested anonymity as they were not allowed to speak to the media.

Kenya's national police spokesperson did not respond to calls and messages seeking comment about the resignation letters, pay delays, and working conditions.

National police chief Douglas Kanja addressed reports in Kenyan media regarding pay delays at a news conference on Wednesday, stating the officers had been paid "up to the end of October." However, the three officers disputed this, claiming they were last paid in September.

Kenya has deployed about 400 officers since June to lead the MSS, intended to comprise approximately 2,500 personnel from around 10 countries. Still, the force has been hampered by funding and staffing shortfalls. A few officers from other countries have arrived in Haiti, and a promise made by Kenyan President William Ruto to send an additional 600 officers the following month has not materialized.

According to the three officers, colleagues started submitting resignation letters in October after attempts to resign verbally were met with requests to formalize their requests in writing. Three officers resigned in October followed by another 15 in November, including at least five senior officers, such as a unit commander who was the first to submit his letter in October.

Gang Violence Worsens

Gang violence, which has claimed thousands of lives in Haiti over the past two years, has escalated recently, with armed groups spreading into parts of the capital, Port-au-Prince, previously untouched by gang control.

One officer recounted being unprepared for the conditions in Haiti, describing horrific scenes, including "dogs eating human flesh on the streets." Officers also expressed concerns regarding the lack of adequate ammunition to combat the gangs, who have intensified their attacks on Kenyan police positions.

From the outset, the mission has faced significant morale issues. Four officers revealed to Reuters in September that they encountered pay delays and shortages in equipment and personnel. The U.S. administration, led by President Joe Biden, has provided most of the funding for the mission, advocating for its conversion into a U.N. peacekeeping force to stabilize and diversify its financing.

However, China and Russia have opposed this, suggesting that the MSS mission should be given more time to establish peace before transitioning to a peacekeeping operation.

In a recent political development, Haiti faced another blow to its stability last month when its national transitional council ousted the prime minister appointed six months earlier, installing Alix Didier Fils-Aime in his place.




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