Kenyan police sent to Haiti to fight gangs not getting promised pay

Kenyan police deployed to Haiti to help local forces fight armed gangs have not received their full wages for two months, authorities informed.

The Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS), which is largely funded by the United States, acknowledged the delays, that the armed forces could expect their payments by the end of the week.

Speaking to CNN, some police officers expressed frustration over the lack of pay, saying they need the officers to support their families back home. The amounts promised were relatively high, as the deployment is more typical for a military force.

This problem illustrates once again how the international mission to stabilize the troubled country is failing. The force was originally supposed to consist of 2,500 officers from various countries, but so far only 400 have arrived from Kenya.

The armed forces have also failed to make substantial progress in the fight against the gangs, which do not seem to be deterred.

The criminal organizations organized a a new prison break in mid-August in a complex housing about 500 inmates.

In March, gangs raided the country’s two largest prisons, escaping more than 4,000 inmates, including dangerous criminals and individuals involved in the 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse.

The troops also recently suffered a defeat when they retreated from the town of Ganthier, on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince. This displaced nearly 6,000 residents, bringing the total to nearly 600,000.

In this context, the US Southern Command said it has begun sending 24 additional armored vehicles and 34 Overhead Gunner Protection Kits, also known as “turrets” to assist in their operationsThis latest equipment is being installed by military contractors and should improve troop visibility.

While there has been a slight decline in killings and kidnappings in recent months, attacks by armed groups remain persistent. The UN reported that more than 1,300 people were killed or injured, and 428 kidnapped, in the second quarter of 2024 alone.