Kenyan Officers Resigning from Haiti Anti-Gang Mission Amid Pay Delays and Poor Conditions

Approximately 20 Kenyan police officers, part of a 400-strong contingent deployed to Haiti under a U.N.-backed anti-gang mission, have submitted resignation letters over the past two months due to pay delays and challenging working conditions, according to three officers speaking anonymously to Reuters. Despite submitting their letters, these officers remain on duty with the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission.

Efforts to obtain comments from Kenya’s national police spokesperson regarding the resignation letters, pay delays, and working conditions have been unsuccessful. National police chief Douglas Kanja addressed the issue at a press conference, stating that officers had been compensated "up to the end of October." However, the three officers contested this claim, asserting that they had not been paid since September.

Kenya deployed the MSS mission in June 2024 with approximately 400 personnel, aiming to lead a multinational force of 2,500 officers drawn from around 10 countries. However, the mission has faced significant funding and staffing challenges. Few officers from other nations have joined, and a commitment by Kenyan President William Ruto in October to send an additional 600 officers by November has not materialized.

According to the officers, some of their colleagues began submitting resignation letters in October after verbal resignation attempts were rejected and they were asked to formalize their requests in writing. Among the resigning officers are at least five senior members, including a unit commander.

The situation in Haiti has worsened as gang violence, which has claimed thousands of lives over the past two years, has expanded into areas of Port-au-Prince that were previously unaffected. Officers on the ground have reported being underprepared for the conditions, with one recounting disturbing scenes, such as dogs feeding on human remains. Additionally, they cite insufficient ammunition to counter increasingly aggressive gang attacks on Kenyan police positions.

Low morale has plagued the mission from its inception, with earlier reports highlighting delays in pay, inadequate equipment, and manpower shortages. The United States has been the primary financial backer of the mission, with the Biden administration advocating for its transition into a U.N. peacekeeping force to ensure better funding and support. However, this proposal has met resistance from China and Russia, who prefer giving the MSS more time to stabilize the situation before introducing a peacekeeping mandate.

Haiti’s political landscape has also experienced further turmoil. In November, the country’s national transitional council ousted its prime minister, who had been in office for just six months, and appointed Alix Didier Fils-Aimé as the new leader. This instability complicates efforts to restore order and governance in the region.

The challenges faced by the Kenyan contingent highlight the difficulties in managing international security missions in fragile states, emphasizing the urgent need for adequate resources, strategic planning, and sustainable funding to achieve meaningful outcomes.