The Kenyan police force deployed to Haiti as part of a United Nations mission to combat gang violence is facing immense challenges.
Since their arrival in mid-2024, the officers have found themselves outnumbered by the well-armed gangs that control large parts of the capital, Port-au-Prince.
With gang members reportedly numbering up to 15,000 across 200 different groups, the roughly 400 Kenyan officers, despite their efforts, are struggling to make significant progress.
The gangs, heavily armed with assault rifles and military-grade weaponry, continue to maintain control of key areas, including neighborhoods around the U.S. Embassy and critical infrastructure such as the international airport.
Despite occasional victories, such as clearing gangs from certain zones like the public hospital and a few major roads, the Kenyan forces remain stretched thin.
A significant part of the difficulty lies in the vastness of the territory controlled by the gangs.
Many smaller towns and regions outside Port-au-Prince are increasingly falling under gang control, making it difficult for the Kenyan-led mission to intervene effectively.
This situation has led to a dire humanitarian crisis, with thousands displaced and facing hunger as gangs continue to block roads and disrupt the flow of goods.
The international community, led by the U.S., is aware of these limitations.
Additional funding has been allocated to the mission, and reinforcements are being sent, but experts remain skeptical about the mission’s long-term effectiveness without substantial increases in manpower and resources.
The Haitian government’s limited control and political instability only add to the complexity of the situation, as the country’s ongoing unrest and the gang threat show little signs of abating.
According to International Media , the Kenyan Police in Haiti have been out numbered by the Local Gangs! pic.twitter.com/GX3mUaUqMI
— The Kenyan Vigilante (@KenyanSays) November 14, 2024
